Lieutenant General Aitech Bizhev, who previously served as deputy commander-in-chief of Russia’s Combined Air Defense System, believes North Korea is actively advancing its missile capabilities. He argues that, in his assessment, the North relies on high‑tech weapons to safeguard sovereignty over the post‑Soviet space and to counter external pressure. Bizhev notes that Pyongyang has both developed precision weapons domestically and integrated those systems into its security mindset, with ongoing consultations and exchanges of information with relevant agencies.
In recent days, North Korea reportedly tested a solid‑fuel missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead. Bizhev contends that such developments are unlikely to alter the broader strategic dynamics in the region.
“Hypersonic weapons pose a challenge for air defense,” he remarks. He adds that the current tests are not expected to destabilize neighboring states or shift the regional balance in a dramatic way. He emphasizes that North Korea is a relatively small nation prioritizing defense and sovereignty, and that sanctions limit options, making a robust, technologically advanced armed force a central pillar of its security doctrine.
Bizhev also points out that North Korea faces limited natural resources and persistent external pressure, factors that drive the regime to pursue weapons capable of preserving its independence and deterrence. His assessment remains that the strategic purpose of these tests is to reinforce resilience in the face of sanctions and external scrutiny.
Observers should recall that after Pyongyang’s latest launch, analysts stressed that the move did not appear to threaten regional security or trigger immediate changes in the security posture of neighbors. The broader question remains how these developments will influence future regional security calculations and the degree to which alliance plans and defense postures adapt in response.
There has also been public commentary in Moscow about the potential timing of official visits and diplomatic engagements related to North Korea, underscoring how closely security and diplomacy intersect in ongoing regional dynamics.