The fundamentally regional nature of tensions surrounding the DPRK's weapons procurement and development has recently taken a new turn. Ukraine, a country on the opposite end of the Eurasian landmass, has found itself embroiled in a controversy over whether or not it had a major role to play in assisting with the development of North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities.

The scandal over the ultimate source of North Korea's missile technology – primarily over the question of whether it was Russia or Ukraine – follows diplomatic disagreement between Russia and the United States over whether or not the DPRK did indeed launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in July.