North Korea Sent Over 13,000 Containers Suspected Of Carrying Weapons To Russia – Report

North Korea has allegedly sent more than 13,000 shipping containers suspected of carrying arms to Russia since mid-2022, as both authoritarian regimes worked to strengthen bilateral military ties.

According to a Defense Intelligence Agency report submitted to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, North Korea delivered weapons shipments that could hold more than 6 million 152-millimeter artillery shells through its eastern port of Najin over the two years following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

South Korea’s military intelligence has been monitoring and tracking signs of the North transferring arms to Russia since the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022.

South Korean officials suspect North Korea may have supplied Russia with 122-mm artillery rounds, mobile anti-air missiles, anti-tank missiles, and other military equipment and weapons.

The number of shipments revealed on Tuesday represents a twofold increase since February, when Defense Minister Shin Won-sik told reporters the North had sent an estimated 6,700 shopping containers allegedly carrying arms to Russia.

The deliveries are a sign that North Korea and Russia have committed to strengthening military ties between the two nations.

“To prepare for a prolonged war in Ukraine, Russia has moved to formalize North Korea as a supply base for weapons and ammunition,” the agency said, according to Yohap.

South Korea and the U.S. are jointly monitoring the possibility of North Korean missiles being sent to Russia, citing Russian missiles fired in Ukraine that have shown characteristics of North Korean missiles, according to Yonhap news agency.

In exchange for military support, North Korea is believed to be receiving technological aid from Russia, particularly in North Korea’s missile and spy satellite programs.

This cooperation was highlighted during Kim Jong-un’s visit to a Russian spaceport in September, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, on August 26, a Pentagon spokesperson accused North Korea of being “complicit” in Russia’s war in Ukraine as he stressed the U.S.’ growing concerns over Pyongyang providing munitions and other military equipment to Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, held bilateral talks in June, where they signed a partnership agreement.

The agreement states that the “other party shall provide military and other assistance without delay by all means at its disposal.”

The two leaders held talks before signing the treaty, which pledged to provide military aid to one another if either nation was attacked by another country.

South Korea and the U.S. continue to monitor the potential transfer of weapons and military equipment to Russia amid growing global instability following the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine has claimed half the artillery shells supplied to Russia by North Korea don’t work.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry, the White House,
the North Korea Embassy in London, and Rep. Kang Dae-sik for comment.

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