Despite facing international sanctions, North Korean arms maker Glocom is not only surviving but thriving. Glocom, known for selling advanced military technology like radios, missile components, and command systems, is now expanding its catalog. In 2024, the company introduced a telemetry system for missiles, showcasing it online with technical specifications and even a rocket image. This marks a bold step into high-tech arms sales, moving beyond simpler products like radios.
Although Glocom goes to great lengths to hide its North Korean origins, the company’s connection to Pyongyang’s intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, has been widely documented. The UN and several governments identified Glocom as a key player in North Korea’s efforts to evade sanctions and earn foreign currency. Despite being temporarily shut down in 2016 after global scrutiny, the company resurfaced with new products and a modernized website, signaling its resilience and the North Korean regime’s determination to fund its military programs.
A Network Built to Evade Sanctions
North Korea’s arms trade operates through a vast network of front companies spread across the globe. These entities sell weapons and military equipment to conflict zones and nations under arms embargoes. Many of these transactions are conducted through intermediaries, allowing the true origins of the weapons to remain hidden.
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One of the most infamous front companies is Pan Systems Singapore, which worked closely with Glocom. While Pan Systems claimed to sever ties with North Korea after sanctions intensified in 2007, investigations revealed ongoing connections. For example, Glocom’s director, a North Korean intelligence agent, made multiple trips to Singapore and Malaysia between 2010 and 2016, meeting with Pan Systems representatives and others linked to Glocom.
Malaysia, once a hub for North Korean front companies, has been another key location for Glocom’s operations. Although authorities there claim Glocom never officially operated within its borders, UN experts uncovered several North Korean-linked companies conducting transactions on Glocom’s behalf. These companies often listed fake addresses, such as one in Kuala Lumpur’s Little India district, to mask their activities.
North Korea also uses innovative strategies to obscure its deals, such as rebranding its products under different names. For instance, military radios sold to Ethiopia in 2022 were marketed through an Indonesian company under a separate brand. The transaction reportedly involved training sessions for Ethiopian forces, demonstrating the lengths North Korea will go to in order to maintain its trade networks.
A Strategic Shield in Russia
The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing new opportunities for North Korea’s arms industry. Isolated by much of the world, Russia has grown closer to North Korea, forging a partnership that benefits both nations. This collaboration has allowed North Korea to bypass some sanctions and gain access to new markets.
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In recent years, Russia has used its veto power at the UN Security Council to protect North Korea from additional sanctions and weaken the enforcement of existing ones. In 2023, Russia even blocked the continuation of the UN panel of experts that had been investigating North Korea’s sanctions evasion for over a decade. This panel had exposed key details about Glocom and other North Korean activities, making its shutdown a significant blow to international efforts to curb Pyongyang’s arms trade.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Russia itself has begun purchasing North Korean weapons for use in its war in Ukraine. This marks a stark departure from the global community’s efforts to isolate Pyongyang and restrict its military exports. As North Korea strengthens its ties with Moscow, its ability to conduct arms sales with relative impunity is growing, further complicating international attempts to enforce sanctions.
Glocom’s continued presence and expansion underline the sophistication of North Korea’s sanctions-evasion strategies. Through a combination of front companies, fake identities, and rebranding, the regime is successfully funding its military programs while supplying weapons to conflict zones around the world. With Russia’s support, North Korea’s shadowy arms trade appears to be gaining a new lease on life.
