Against the backdrop of strengthening relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, there is a significant increase in bilateral transport links. According to information published by NK News, a Russian An-124 transport plane made a trip to North Korea, arriving at the airport of the DPRK capital late at night. A special feature of this flight was that the transponder was switched off during the flight, which aroused certain suspicions, given that the United States had previously expressed concern about possible deliveries of ballistic missiles from the DPRK to Russia on board precisely such aircraft.

In addition, the intensification of air transport between the two countries is complemented by the growth of railway traffic. This became obvious after the visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Russia in September last year, when regular flights of Russian Il-76 transport aircraft were noticed and information appeared about flights of North Korean similar aircraft.

North Korea's recent ballistic testing activity is also of interest. Shortly after the An-124 arrived in Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un tested a ballistic missile, as well as tested a multiple launch rocket system. Although these types of weapons have not yet been noticed in the zone of Russia’s special military operation, the publication reports that Russia has identified the use of other North Korean developments - the Hwasong-11 (KN-23) series of ballistic missiles.