ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief October 14, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief October 14, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• South Korea Accuses North Korea of Sending Troops to Support Russia
• Russia Proposes to Build Nuclear-Powered LNG Carrier
• Hungary and Gazprom Sign Agreement to Continue Russian Gas Supplies

South Korea Accuses North Korea of Sending Troops to Support Russia

South Korea said North Korea is likely deploying members of its regular armed forces to fight in Ukraine in support of Russia. North Korea is very likely already providing other forms of defense support, including weapons, in return for economic assistance. Ukrainian sources also claim to have found North Korean weapons and ammunition. Russia and North Korea recently signed a mutual defense clause, which likely concerns South Korea if it increases the likelihood of Russian military support in a military clash between both Koreas.

Russia Proposes to Build Nuclear-Powered LNG Carrier

During a recent presentation, the President of Russia's Kurchatov Institute, Mikhail Kovalchuk, unveiled plans for a proposed nuclear submarine gas carrier. According to Kovalchuk, three Ritm-200 nuclear reactors would power the vessel to deliver Russian LNG to consumers in Asia. Kovalchuk noted that in order to integrate such a vessel into the existing transport infrastructure, the submarine would require a capacity of about 180,000 tons. While it is unclear whether the vessel will be approved for production, Kovalchuk's presentation itself indicates Russia may be feeling pressure to identify new ways to export its LNG as Western sanctions constrict its ability to use commercial carriers.

Hungary and Gazprom Sign Agreement to Continue Russian Gas Supplies

Hungarian power company MVM and Russia's Gazprom signed an agreement to continue Russian gas exports to Hungary. In two Facebook posts discussing Hungary's gas imports, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó indicated Russian volumes will arrive in Hungary via the TurkStream pipeline next year, as Ukraine plans to halt its transit of Russian gas effective January 1, 2025.