The analysis found that more than 60 percent of the 136 sites connected to missile manufacturing or the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which manages China’s nuclear arsenal, have undergone significant growth, marking one of the most notable military build-ups in recent years.

Furthermore, recent events have increased its transactional importance: Russia now relies on NK for a critical supply of ammunition and weapons for its war in Ukraine, solidifying a strategic partnership that helps both regimes solidify an anti-Western bloc and increase their regional leverage.

For both Beijing and Moscow, the instability and military tension caused by Pyongyang's nuclear program distract the West and allow them to challenge the US-led international order.

North Korea remains vital to China and Russia primarily as a geopolitical buffer and a strategic tool against the United States and its allies. For China, North Korea's existence prevents a unified, U.S.-allied Korea from sitting directly on its border, which is a core security interest.