Are North Korea And Iran Allies? Unraveling A Rogue Connection

Kendrick Wilkinson 18 Jun 2025

**The geopolitical landscape is a complex tapestry, woven with threads of alliances, rivalries, and strategic partnerships that often operate in the shadows. Among the most scrutinized and concerning of these relationships is the one between North Korea and Iran. Both nations, frequently isolated by international sanctions and labeled as part of the "axis of evil" by former U.S. President George W. Bush, have long been suspected of covert cooperation, particularly in areas of military technology and unconventional weapons.** The nature and depth of the alliance between **North Korea and Iran** have been a persistent source of concern for the United States and its allies for decades. While not always overt, the evidence points to a relationship forged in shared adversity, mutual strategic interests, and a collective defiance of international norms. This article delves into the historical roots, the strategic imperatives, and the evolving dynamics of this intriguing and often unsettling partnership.
## Table of Contents 1. [The Historical Roots of a Controversial Connection](#the-historical-roots-of-a-controversial-connection) * [Early Arms Deals and Covert Cooperation](#early-arms-deals-and-covert-cooperation) 2. [Missile and Nuclear Ambitions: A Shared Path](#missile-and-nuclear-ambitions-a-shared-path) * [Ballistic Missile Technology Exchange](#ballistic-missile-technology-exchange) 3. [The "Axis of Evil" and International Sanctions](#the-axis-of-evil-and-international-sanctions) 4. [Strategic Convergence: Why This Alliance Endures](#strategic-convergence-why-this-alliance-endures) * [Mutual Adversaries and Geopolitical Alignment](#mutual-adversaries-and-geopolitical-alignment) 5. [North Korea's Role in Iran's Regional Strategy](#north-koreas-role-in-irans-regional-strategy) 6. [Iran's Support for North Korea's Military Modernization](#irans-support-for-north-koreas-military-modernization) 7. [The Ukraine War: A New Chapter in Collaboration](#the-ukraine-war-a-new-chapter-in-collaboration) * [Weapons Transfers to Russia and Beyond](#weapons-transfers-to-russia-and-beyond) 8. [Implications for Global Security and U.S. Allies](#implications-for-global-security-and-us-allies)
## The Historical Roots of a Controversial Connection The ties between **North Korea and Iran** are not a recent phenomenon. Their relationship traces back to the 1980s, a period marked by significant geopolitical shifts and regional conflicts. The United States has been greatly concerned by North Korea's arms deals with Iran, which began during the Iran-Iraq War. During this tumultuous time, North Korea often acted as a crucial third party, facilitating arms deals between the communist bloc and Iran. Beyond this intermediary role, Pyongyang also began selling its domestically produced weapons directly to Tehran. This early cooperation laid the groundwork for a more entrenched strategic partnership, one that would continue to evolve over the subsequent decades. The initial impetus for this relationship was primarily transactional: Iran needed weapons for its protracted war, and North Korea, facing its own economic challenges and international isolation, was eager to sell its military hardware. This pragmatic exchange, however, gradually deepened into something more significant, fostering a sense of shared purpose rooted in their respective anti-Western stances and a desire to circumvent international pressure. ### Early Arms Deals and Covert Cooperation The 1980s saw North Korea become a vital supplier of conventional arms to Iran, including artillery, tanks, and small arms. This period was crucial in establishing trust and a clandestine network for future, more sensitive collaborations. As the years progressed, the nature of these transactions shifted from mere arms sales to a more profound military cooperation, particularly in fields that would become central to both nations' strategic ambitions: missiles and nuclear technology. The longevity of this cooperation, which ran from the 1980s and into the first decade of the 2000s, has been a consistent accusation leveled by the U.S. against both Iran and North Korea. The foundation of this "rogue alliance" was thus built on a shared need for military self-sufficiency and a defiance of the international arms control regimes. ## Missile and Nuclear Ambitions: A Shared Path Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the relationship between **North Korea and Iran** has been their alleged cooperation on ballistic missiles and nuclear technology. Both nations have pursued ambitious and often clandestine weapons programs, drawing widespread international condemnation and sanctions. The suspicion that they have shared expertise, materials, and even personnel in these highly sensitive areas has been a persistent concern for global security. The notion that North Korea continues to sell missiles to Iran is not merely speculative; it is a recurring theme in intelligence reports and analyses. For Iran, North Korean missile technology could provide a shortcut to developing more advanced and accurate delivery systems for conventional and potentially unconventional warheads. For North Korea, the financial proceeds from such sales are invaluable, offering a crucial source of hard currency to sustain its own impoverished economy and its expensive military programs. ### Ballistic Missile Technology Exchange The exchange of ballistic missile technology is a cornerstone of this strategic partnership. North Korea has a well-established and increasingly sophisticated missile program, while Iran has consistently sought to enhance its own capabilities. It is widely believed that North Korea provided Iran with critical assistance in developing its Shahab-3 missile, which bears a striking resemblance to North Korea's Rodong-1. This transfer of technology, whether through direct sales, technical assistance, or shared research, allows both countries to accelerate their respective programs while circumventing the limitations imposed by international sanctions. This illicit trade in sensitive technology underscores the depth of their cooperation and their mutual commitment to developing deterrence capabilities against perceived adversaries, particularly the United States and its allies. ## The "Axis of Evil" and International Sanctions The term "Axis of Evil," coined by former U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002, starkly highlighted the perceived threat posed by states like Iran, Iraq, and North Korea due to their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their alleged support for terrorism. This designation, while controversial, underscored the U.S. government's deep concerns about the strategic alignment of these nations. Both **North Korea and Iran** have been designated as "state sponsors of terrorism" by the United States, further cementing their shared pariah status on the global stage. This shared designation and the subsequent imposition of stringent international sanctions have, paradoxically, often pushed the two countries closer together. Isolated from mainstream global financial and trade systems, they have found common ground in developing illicit networks for trade, technology transfer, and financial transactions. These sanctions, intended to curb their weapons programs and destabilizing activities, have inadvertently created an environment where cooperation becomes a matter of strategic necessity for survival and advancement. The pressure of international isolation has thus become a binding agent, reinforcing their "rogue allies" status and solidifying their strategic partnership. ## Strategic Convergence: Why This Alliance Endures The enduring nature of the alliance between **North Korea and Iran** can be attributed to a powerful convergence of strategic interests. Beyond the transactional benefits of arms sales and technology transfer, both nations share fundamental geopolitical objectives and face similar adversaries. This shared strategic outlook forms the bedrock of their continued cooperation, even amidst shifting global dynamics. First, it could give North Korea another source of military technology beyond just Russia, diversifying its access to critical components and expertise. This is particularly valuable for Pyongyang, which seeks to minimize its dependence on any single external power. For Iran, North Korea offers a unique partner unconstrained by the geopolitical considerations that might influence other potential allies. ### Mutual Adversaries and Geopolitical Alignment A primary driver of their alliance is the presence of mutual adversaries. Iran is a longstanding adversary of Israel and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, constantly seeking to project influence and challenge the regional order. North Korea, on the other hand, poses a significant conventional military and unconventional weapons threat to major U.S. allies in Asia, including South Korea and Japan. Both nations view the United States as their primary antagonist, a global hegemon seeking to undermine their regimes and constrain their strategic ambitions. This shared animosity towards the U.S. and its allies creates a powerful bond. Tehran will look to region's proxies and other authoritarian 'crink' states for backing in its conflicts, and North Korea fits squarely into this category. Similarly, North Korea views Iran as a valuable partner in its broader strategy of challenging the U.S.-led international order. This geopolitical alignment, rooted in a common perception of threat and a desire to counterbalance Western influence, ensures that the strategic partnership between Iran and North Korea remains robust and relevant. ## North Korea's Role in Iran's Regional Strategy North Korea's contributions extend beyond mere technology transfer; its very existence as a defiant, nuclear-armed state provides a certain strategic utility to Iran. In a region fraught with tension, where Iran is often isolated, having an ally like North Korea, which is also under international sanctions for its weapons programs, offers a unique form of solidarity and a potential model for resisting external pressure. While Iran's primary allies in the Middle East are often its proxies like Hezbollah, and globally include Russia and China, North Korea represents a distinct category of "rogue ally." This strategic partnership, as explored by "The University Press of Kentucky," highlights the unique nature of their bond. As neither its allies, Russia and China, nor its proxies, such as Hezbollah, are in a position to fully support Iran in certain scenarios (e.g., a direct conflict with Israel), the regime appears to fall into isolation like that of North Korea — if not worse. In such circumstances, the symbolic and potentially material support from Pyongyang becomes even more valuable for Tehran, signaling a broader front of resistance against shared adversaries. ## Iran's Support for North Korea's Military Modernization The benefits of this alliance are reciprocal. While North Korea has historically been a supplier of technology to Iran, it is also likely to benefit from close ties with Iran. This reciprocal relationship allows both nations to pool resources, share intelligence, and potentially even collaborate on research and development, circumventing the limitations imposed by their respective isolation. One significant advantage for North Korea is the potential for another source of military technology beyond just Russia. While China and Russia are often considered North Korea's closest allies, particularly China which has a "close, special relationship" with Pyongyang, diversifying its military technology sources is crucial for North Korea's long-term strategic independence. Iran, with its own developing military-industrial complex and access to different global networks, could provide North Korea with components, materials, or even expertise that are difficult to obtain elsewhere. This mutual benefit reinforces the strategic imperative for both **North Korea and Iran** to maintain and deepen their cooperative ties. ## The Ukraine War: A New Chapter in Collaboration The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has inadvertently highlighted and perhaps even strengthened the ties between **North Korea and Iran**. In recent months, both countries have emerged as the two principal military backers of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. This development has brought their covert cooperation more into the open, albeit still operating largely "under the radar." While Iran’s drone exports and North Korea’s artillery shell shipments to the Russian military have been widely discussed, the underlying cooperation between Iran and North Korea has continued, and possibly intensified, away from the direct gaze of international media. This shared objective of supporting Russia against a Western-backed Ukraine has created a new dimension to their strategic partnership, providing both nations with valuable combat experience for their weaponry and an opportunity to further solidify their anti-Western alignment. ### Weapons Transfers to Russia and Beyond The transfer of Iranian drones and North Korean artillery shells to Russia for use in Ukraine demonstrates a significant level of coordination and logistical capability between the three nations. This also signals a growing willingness of **North Korea and Iran** to openly challenge the international order by supporting a major aggressor state. A spokesperson at North Korea's foreign ministry has even urged Washington to refrain, warning that actions by the U.S. and its allies were pushing the situation in the Middle East to an uncontrollable catastrophic phase, echoing sentiments from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This unified rhetoric and action underscore their deepening strategic alignment in opposing U.S. foreign policy. North Korea has indeed emerged as an increasingly valuable partner to the United States' leading adversaries, including Russia and Iran, as they engage in conflicts with nations backed by the U.S. ## Implications for Global Security and U.S. Allies The strategic partnership between **North Korea and Iran** carries profound implications for global security, particularly for the United States and its allies. The continued military cooperation, especially in the missile and nuclear fields, poses a direct threat to regional stability and international non-proliferation efforts. Iran's role as a longstanding adversary of Israel and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, coupled with North Korea's significant conventional military and unconventional weapons threat to major U.S. allies in Asia, including South Korea and Japan, creates a complex and dangerous geopolitical nexus. While Israel is a U.S. ally, Iran's allies include Russia, China, and North Korea, forming a counter-bloc to Western influence. The conflict between Iran and Israel, which has continued for several days in recent times, further underscores the volatility of the region and the potential for escalation, with Iran's "rogue allies" potentially playing a role. The ongoing collaboration between these two isolated states means that efforts to contain one's weapons program may inadvertently benefit the other. The resilience of their alliance, fueled by shared defiance and mutual strategic interests, necessitates a comprehensive and coordinated international response. Understanding the depth and evolution of this partnership is crucial for policymakers seeking to navigate the complex challenges posed by these two highly scrutinized nations on the global stage.
In conclusion, the question of "are North Korea and Iran allies" can be definitively answered in the affirmative. Their relationship, rooted in decades of covert arms deals and military cooperation, has evolved into a strategic partnership driven by shared adversaries, mutual benefits, and a collective defiance of international norms. From early arms exchanges to suspected collaboration on ballistic missiles and nuclear technology, and now their joint support for Russia in the Ukraine war, the ties between Pyongyang and Tehran remain a persistent and growing concern for global security. As the world grapples with escalating tensions in various hotspots, the enduring alliance between these two "rogue states" will undoubtedly continue to shape the geopolitical landscape, demanding vigilant attention and strategic foresight from the international community. What are your thoughts on the strategic implications of the North Korea-Iran alliance? Share your insights in the comments below, or explore our other articles on international relations and security for more in-depth analysis.