North Korea ships 13,000 containers of artillery shells to Russia

North Korea has sent over 13,000 containers to Russia, which could hold about 6 million 6-inch artillery shells, reported the Yonhap News TV portal on Wednesday. Support for Moscow has been flowing from Pyongyang since mid-2022.

Yonhap News TV cites a report disclosed by a member of the National Defense Commission, Deputy Kang Dae Sik.

The number provided in the Defense Intelligence Agency document represents a twofold increase since February. At that time, South Korea's Minister of Defense, Shin Won Sik, stated that Pyongyang had sent Russia about 6,700 containers, which could translate to around 3 million 6-inch artillery shells used in the war with Ukraine.

The South Korean military has been monitoring possible weapons transfers from North Korea to Russia since the full-scale Kremlin invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The report cited by the deputy mentioned that North Korea might have supplied Russia with, among other things, 4.8-inch artillery shells, mobile anti-aircraft missiles, and anti-tank missiles. Their transport occurs through the port in Najin, located at the North Korea-Russia border.

"To prepare for the prolonged war in Ukraine, Russia has formally designated North Korea as its base," assessed the South Korean Defense Intelligence Agency.

In mid-June, North Korean and Russian leaders Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin met in Pyongyang, where they signed a new treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership and military cooperation, including mutual assistance in the event of an attack. Upon leaving Pyongyang, Putin announced that he "does not rule out" sending weapons to North Korea.

Presumably, Russia provides North Korea with technological assistance in missile and espionage programs in exchange for North Korea's support in arms supply. This assessment comes from the Defense Intelligence Agency, referring to Kim Jong Un's September visit to the Russian cosmodrome, where he met with Putin.