Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are forming a “coalition of desperation” and any military support from Pyongyang to Moscow in its war in Ukraine will not be decisive, a senior British commander was quoted by Sky News as saying.

As the two dictators prepare to meet, General Sir Jim Hockenhull said the Russian president’s desperate desire to stockpile more weapons and ammunition meant he was prepared to break “all sorts of UN conventions” in dealing with such a pariah state.

Instead, the general said North Korea’s reclusive leader would seek advanced technology to bolster his military capabilities after a string of failed satellite launches.

“I think we have a sort of coalition of desperation,” a senior officer told reporters on the sidelines of DSEI, the huge biennial arms fair in London today.

General Hawkenhull heads the Strategic Command, which oversees a number of key UK capabilities, including defense intelligence and special forces.

“Putin is desperate to get more campaign materials from Ukraine. Despite efforts to restore Russia’s domestic military supplies, Russia is of course suffering from economic sanctions and pressures placed on it. So whatever he can do to mitigate his flaws, he seems willing to do,” he says.

General Hockenhull said he expected Kim Jong-un to provide Putin with “material support to fight Russia.”

• Read also: Reuters Analysis: “King of Battle”. How North Korean ammunition that Kim Jong-un can provide will help Putin

As for what the North Korean dictator wants in return, he said: “I think he will want access to advanced technology. In recent weeks and months, we have witnessed several failed satellite launches. I think it’s understandable … in such a poor country … some injection of high technology will be needed.”

However, he expressed doubts that Putin would actually give North Korea such opportunities, rather than try to deceive what he considers a “junior partner.”

“He uses these circumstances where he can to his advantage,” said General Hockenhull.

Regarding the impact of North Korean munitions on the course of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the British commander said:

“It’s not going to be a critical contribution, but if you’re out of ammo, gear, and friends, I think they’ll go anywhere to get what they can to make the campaign work.”

North Korean projectile misses

Massive artillery fire has played a key role since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a “special military operation.” Some analysts call artillery the “king of the battle,” despite the emphasis on high-tech weapons.

“When used correctly, artillery can destroy the enemy’s will and cohesion, providing a significant opportunity to seize both terrain and the initiative,” said analyst Patrick Hinton of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

However, according to Hinton, it is more difficult than simply throwing shells at the enemy, and Russian artillery has repeatedly failed to knock out the Ukrainians.

Hinton told Reuters that the problem of the quality of North Korean projectiles could be affected if defects fall outside acceptable tolerances.

“Poorly manufactured munitions will perform erratically — this can affect flight behavior, which will reduce accuracy; poor-quality fuses can lead to premature tripping; The shelf life can be shortened if the content is done poorly,” he said.

“All of this has to be manufactured to a high standard, otherwise it could land in the wrong place it’s expected to, which could have catastrophic consequences.”

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