North Korea is reported to have dispatched over 13,000 shipping containers, suspected to be laden with arms, to Russia since mid-2022, in a move that signals the strengthening of military ties between the two authoritarian nations.
As reported by Newsweek, a Defense Intelligence Agency report submitted to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of South Korea's ruling People Power Party, revealed that North Korea has been delivering weapons shipments capable of holding more than 6 million 152-millimeter artillery shells through its eastern port of Najin. This activity has been ongoing for two years, following Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine.
South Korea's military intelligence has been vigilantly monitoring and tracking signs of North Korea transferring arms to Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war in February 2022. South Korean officials harbor suspicions that 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 volume of shipments disclosed on Tuesday marks a twofold increase since February, when Defense Minister Shin Won-sik informed reporters that North Korea had dispatched an estimated 6,700 containers, allegedly carrying arms to Russia. These deliveries underscore the commitment of North Korea and Russia to bolster military ties between their nations.
The agency stated, "To prepare for a prolonged war in Ukraine, Russia has moved to formalize North Korea as a supply base for weapons and ammunition," according to Yohap. South Korea and the U.S. are jointly monitoring the potential for North Korean missiles being sent to Russia, citing Russian missiles fired in Ukraine that have shown characteristics of North Korean missiles, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
In return 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 underscored during Kim Jong-un's visit to a Russian spaceport in September, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On August 26, a Pentagon spokesperson accused North Korea of being "complicit" in Russia's war in Ukraine, emphasizing the U.S.' growing concerns over Pyongyang providing munitions and other military equipment to Moscow.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, held bilateral talks and signed a partnership agreement. The agreement stipulates that the "other party shall provide military and other assistance without delay by all means at its disposal." The two leaders held discussions 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. remain vigilant, continuing to monitor the potential transfer of weapons and military equipment to Russia amid escalating global instability following the war in Ukraine. Ukraine has claimed that half the artillery shells supplied to Russia by North Korea are defective.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, the White House, the North Korea Embassy in London, and Rep. Kang Dae-sik have been contacted for comment. The unfolding situation underscores the need for continued vigilance and scrutiny in the face of escalating global tensions.
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