Political considerations and material shortages are likely to stop Russia from providing arms to North Korea, experts told NK News this week, despite Moscow’s threat to send its “newest weapons” to the DPRK if South Korea directly arms Ukraine.

On Wednesday, deputy chair of the Russian Security Council and former president Dimitry Medvedev threatened “quid pro quo” after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said Seoul could provide lethal aid to Ukraine if Russia carries out “large-scale” civilian attacks.