North Korea to receive advanced satellite technology from Russia, Blinken cautions.

According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Russia intends to share advanced satellite technology with North Korea.

According to Blinken, who was in Seoul, there is evidence to suggest that Moscow plans to share advanced space and satellite technology with North Korea, in addition to the military equipment and training that the DPRK is already receiving.

An estimated 50 nuclear weapons are in North Korea's arsenal, and such technology would enable them to target and attack adversaries globally, including the U.S.

North Korea's ballistic missile launch into the Sea of Japan increases its weapons testing before President-elect Trump assumes office.

Blinken, in his final days as head of the State Department, will visit Seoul for discussions with South Korean allies regarding the North Korean nuclear threat. He will also meet with officials in Japan, France, Italy, and the Holy See.

Russia would receive troops and arms from North Korea before North Korea receives satellite technology from Russia.

Russia "may be on the verge" of accepting North Korea's nuclear weapons program, marking a shift from its longstanding dedication to denuclearizing the DPRK.

In 2023, North Korea successfully launched its first satellite with the help of Russia.

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, issued a warning last year about Russia's anti-satellite capabilities, which was later declassified by the Biden administration.

In May, John Plumb, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, cautioned that Russia was creating a "discriminatory" nuclear weapon intended for space use, emphasizing its potential consequences on communications, trade, and national security.

At a year-end political conference, Kim Jong Un pledged to intensify his anti-U.S. policy and denounced the Biden administration for strengthening ties with South Korea and Japan, characterizing the alliance as a "nuclear military bloc for aggression."

President-elect Trump met with Kim three times for talks about nuclear programs. However, with Russian support and lessened enforcement of international sanctions, Kim may be less likely to back down in talks with the U.S. than ever before.

It is uncertain if Trump would prioritize strengthening U.S. alliances in Asia as much as the Biden administration did. Historically, he has criticized the expense of maintaining 28,000 U.S. soldiers in South Korea to prevent threats from the north and urged Seoul to boost its own defense expenditures.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.