North Korea seeks old Russian fighter jets to boost its air defense capabilities in return for troop deployments to fight Ukraine, according to one U.S. admiral, a development that could help bolster a dilapidated fleet that has long been the victim of shortages and self-cannibalization. 

But experts told NK News that acquiring fourth-generation Russian aircraft would still leave the DPRK at a significant disadvantage against the U.S. and South Korea, likely reflecting Pyongyang’s inability to convince Moscow to provide more advanced aircraft.