A delegation from North Korea recently visited Iran, marking the highest-level exchange between the two countries in approximately five years. 

This visit comes at a time when the United States has expressed concerns about the role of arms sales from Pyongyang and Tehran in exacerbating conflicts in the Middle East and contributing to Russia's involvement in Ukraine.

North Korea Seeks to Enhance Cooperation

Embracing the concept of increased tensions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seeking to enhance cooperation with countries that are at odds with the United States, as his recent weapons tests have led to the expansion of military drills by the US and South Korea.

In an unusual disclosure, the Korean Central News Agency released a brief statement stating that a delegation from North Korea, headed by Minister Yun Jong Ho, departed Pyongyang for Tehran on Tuesday. 

Yun traveled to Russia earlier in April and has been highlighted in state media as an important figure in trade between Pyongyang and Moscow.

According to AP News, Pyongyang and Tehran are among the few governments in the world that have expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine. 

Additionally, there have been allegations that both countries have supplied Russia with military equipment.

Last week, South Korea's spy agency issued a noteworthy warning regarding the potential collaboration between Iran and North Korea. The agency expressed concerns that Pyongyang might have provided assistance to Iran during its attack on Israel. 

It has been reported that South Korea has stated that weapons from North Korea have been utilized by Hamas, a US-designated terrorist group, in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Although no specific allegations have been made regarding recent arms transfers between North Korea and Iran, it is worth noting that there are certain items that both countries may be interested in obtaining from each other. 

According to arms expert Lami Kim, North Korea, which is facing energy shortages, may be interested in obtaining Iranian oil and acquiring drones similar to those sent by Tehran to Russia. 

Kim Jong Un also suggests that North Korean technology could potentially enhance Iran's nuclear program, Bloomberg reported.

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North Korea's Alleged Involvement on Supplying Weapons to Iran, Russia

Despite a recent leak of hacked documents suggesting otherwise, Iran has consistently denied allegations of selling drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. 

However, they have acknowledged sending a "small number" before the February 2022 invasion.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have vehemently denied the allegations of arms transfers, despite numerous satellite photos released by research groups and the US government. 

These images clearly depict the movement of weapons from North Korea to Russia, and subsequently to munitions dumps near the border with Ukraine.

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