By 대한민국 국방부 - Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea
North Korea has been consistently supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia since the beginning of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the volume of shipments now estimated to include millions of artillery rounds, according to South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Bloomberg reported.
In a statement made in response to an inquiry from South Korean lawmaker Kang Daeshik, the DIA revealed that Pyongyang is believed to have dispatched more than 28,000 containers packed with artillery shells and other military supplies to Russia. When converted to 152-millimetre (6-inch) artillery shells, the shipments are estimated to exceed 12 million rounds.
“North Korea is continuing to supply weapons to Russia,” the DIA stated, as quoted by Bloomberg. The agency further noted, “Our military is continuously reassessing the extent of North Korea’s arms support to Russia in coordination with relevant agencies and allied nations.”
Expanded Military Support Since 2022
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, North Korea has reportedly widened its military assistance to Moscow beyond just artillery. According to Bloomberg, this now includes the delivery of missiles, self-propelled artillery, and even personnel involved in combat.
Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told Bloomberg that North Korea may now be fulfilling as much as 40% of Russia’s current ammunition requirements. Budanov also confirmed Pyongyang is providing a range of advanced weaponry, such as ballistic missiles and modern artillery systems, which he described as “good weapons.”
Deployment of North Korean Troops and Workers
North Korea’s involvement in the conflict appears to extend beyond the provision of arms. Since October 2023, Pyongyang is believed to have sent approximately 13,000 troops to support Russian operations, including frontline combat units and military specialists.
Further deployments are expected in the coming months. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing intelligence from South Korea’s spy agency, Pyongyang is planning to dispatch an additional 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Russia’s Kursk region during July or August. These forces are intended to assist in military-related reconstruction and infrastructure efforts.
Strengthening North Korea–Russia Relations
Amid increasing international scrutiny, Russia and North Korea continue to deepen bilateral ties. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Pyongyang last week and, according to Yonhap, stated that North Korea had reiterated its “clear support” for Russia’s war in Ukraine and its alignment with the Kremlin’s leadership.
In return for its support, Russia is reportedly providing North Korea with both financial aid and technological assistance, helping Kim Jong Un’s regime alleviate some of the economic and diplomatic pressures stemming from longstanding international sanctions and isolation.
The intensifying military partnership between the two nations is raising alarm among Western governments and their allies, as it signals a growing axis of authoritarian cooperation that could impact global security dynamics far beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.
