Since mid-2022, North Korea has sent more than 13,000 containers to Russia, likely containing weaponry, according to a military intelligence report disclosed by South Korea's ruling People Power Party representative, Kang Dae-sik, as reported by Yonhap.
The intelligence report indicates that North Korea has shipped cargo through its eastern port of Najin over the past two years, potentially including over 6 million 152mm artillery shells.
Military sources have been tracking signs of North Korea supplying weapons to Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
“To prepare for a prolonged war in Ukraine, Russia has moved to formalize North Korea as a supply base for weapons and ammunition,” the report states.
Yonhap notes that this latest figure represents a twofold increase since February, when Defense Minister Shin Won-sik reported that North Korea had sent around 6,700 containers to Russia.
The intelligence report also reveals that South Korea and the United States are jointly monitoring the possibility of North Korean missiles being sent to Russia, examining Russian missiles fired at Ukraine that exhibit characteristics of North Korean missiles.
Military analysts suspect that North Korea may have supplied Russia with 122mm artillery shells, mobile anti-aircraft missiles, and anti-tank rockets among other weaponry.
