"Alleged Russian Connections Emerge as North Korea Launches New Missile"

The latest Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test by North Korea has sparked debate over possible Russian links to the country's missile development. While some analysts argue that the visual similarities between the Hwasong-18 and Russian missiles suggest technical cooperation, others point out that North Korea has various ways of gathering technical data from other countries. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggests that Russia may have transferred an advanced solid propellant ICBM to North Korea, but researchers at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies dispute this claim, citing factual inaccuracies. The United States is taking the allegations of missile cooperation between Russia and North Korea seriously, but the extent of Russian assistance remains uncertain.