Russian TV host Maksim Shevchenko believes Russia has no need to carry out another mobilization because it can rely on North Korea’s enormous military, industrial and manpower resources. He describes cooperation with Pyongyang as a major strategic advantage for Moscow.

According to Shevchenko, Ukrainian claims about the possible presence of tens of thousands of North Korean troops or deliveries of large numbers of ballistic missiles only demonstrate the scale of Pyongyang’s potential capabilities. He considers North Korea’s resources in this regard to be virtually inexhaustible.

Shevchenko places particular emphasis on North Korea’s industrial capacity. In his assessment, Russia effectively has access in the Far East to a production base that is beyond the enemy’s reach and capable of manufacturing large quantities of necessary equipment. He also points to strict labor discipline in North Korea, where factories can operate at a highly intensive pace.

The TV host argues that North Korea is capable not only of mass-producing conventional weapons but also of developing advanced military systems and regularly testing them. As an example, he cited a recent launch of a missile that he said visually resembled Russia’s Iskander and flew in the direction of Japan.

Shevchenko considers North Korea’s isolation and secrecy another major advantage. In his view, international organizations and Western intelligence agencies do not have complete information about the missile systems and drones being produced in the country, its nuclear components or the new weapons currently under development.

As a result, he describes North Korea as a highly protected military and industrial base whose actual capabilities are difficult to assess from outside. Shevchenko compared the country to a hedgehog with its spines raised in every direction, making it extremely difficult to approach.

Russia and China, meanwhile, remain Pyongyang’s principal allies. Shevchenko believes Moscow and Beijing have far greater knowledge of developments inside North Korea, including its military technologies. He also suggests that technology is being exchanged between the allies while the details remain beyond the reach of Western intelligence.

Shevchenko concludes that the combination of North Korea’s manpower, powerful defense industry, secrecy and close ties with Moscow is one of the reasons Russia does not need another mobilization. In his assessment, access to North Korea’s potential gives Russia a significant strategic advantage.