Recent reports and analyses from international monitoring groups confirm that North Korean weaponry is being extensively used by Russia in its ongoing aggression against Ukraine. This collaboration, which flagrantly violates numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions, underscores a deepening strategic alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang, providing critical material support to the Russian war effort.
According to a new report from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), established by several UN member states, North Korea has supplied Russia with a staggering volume of armaments. This includes an estimated nine million artillery shells and rockets, alongside at least 100 ballistic missiles. These munitions, primarily of 122mm and 152mm calibres, are crucial for Russia’s ground forces, which have been expending vast quantities of ammunition. The report indicates that these supplies have been transported by sea and rail from North Korea’s Far East, then moved to ammunition depots in southwestern Russia for deployment against Ukrainian targets.
The impact of these North Korean deliveries on the conflict in Ukraine is significant. Experts suggest that Pyongyang’s contributions may account for a substantial portion of Russia’s overall artillery expenditure since the beginning of the war, potentially as high as 40 per cent of all rounds fired. This influx of ammunition has allowed Russia to sustain its intense bombardment of Ukrainian positions and civilian infrastructure, helping to prolong the conflict and enable further offensive operations. Without this external supply, Russia’s ‘shell hunger’ would undoubtedly be far more acute, potentially limiting its ability to maintain its current operational tempo.
Beyond artillery, North Korea has also provided Russia with advanced ballistic missiles, identified as variants of the Hwasong-11. These missiles have been launched against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, targeting both military and civilian sites. Forensic analysis of missile remnants found in Ukraine has revealed distinctive North Korean markings and components, confirming their origin. This direct use of North Korean ballistic missile technology in a major European conflict represents a worrying escalation and further demonstrates the two nations’ disregard for international norms.
In exchange for this military aid, Russia is believed to be providing North Korea with critical support, including advanced air defence systems, electronic warfare technology, and potentially technical assistance for Pyongyang’s own ballistic missile programme. Such reciprocal military cooperation poses a significant threat to global security, enhancing North Korea’s military capabilities and further destabilising the Korean Peninsula.
The transfers highlight the limitations of international sanctions when faced with determined state actors. Despite comprehensive UN embargoes on North Korea’s arms trade, the illicit network between Pyongyang and Moscow continues to operate, undermining global non-proliferation efforts. As the conflict in Ukraine grinds on, the reliance on North Korean armaments signals Russia’s desperate need for continued military supplies and North Korea’s willingness to exploit geopolitical instability for its own strategic and economic gains. This alliance between two heavily sanctioned states is a stark reminder of the evolving challenges to international peace and security.
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