South Korean intelligence claimed on Wednesday that it beleives North Korea has sent over a million artillery rounds to Russia to boost its war efforts against Ukraine.
According to Seoul, Pyongyang sent the rounds via ships and other means of transport since early August, amounting to two months’ worth of supplies.
According to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), artillery shells were transported by sea, originating from the port of Najin and reaching the Russian ports of Dunai and Vostochny.
A South Korean lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum who attended a closed-door briefing with intelligence officials, North Korea also sent its advisers to instruct Russian officials on the proper use of munitions.
“North Korea is running its munition factories to full capacity to meet demand for military supplies to Russia and even mobilising residents and civilian factories to make ammunition boxes for exports,” Yoo said.
In return, Russia is assumed to be providing technology and know-how to North Korea, which is making a third effort to launch a satellite following two failures.
North Korea also hopes to receive Russian fighter jets and other aircraft in the exchange, according to Yoo.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September in eastern Russia, where the leaders toured Russia’s most important satellite launch centre, the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
During the meeting, President Putin said Russia would help North Korea build satellites, without providing specifics.
