South Korean Army Reports Intensive North Korean Balistic Missile Shipments to Russia

• Financial

In recent developments, there have been reports of arms shipments from North Korea to Russia, which is currently involved in the conflict in Ukraine. These shipments appear to include short-range ballistic missiles and man-portable anti-aircraft missiles, according to an announcement made by the South Korean military.

Following a disclosure during a briefing to a parliamentary committee by South Korea's National Intelligence Service, it has come to light that Pyongyang sent over a million artillery rounds and various other armaments in approximately ten separate shipments to Russia starting from early August.

This revelation underscores growing concerns about the extent and nature of military exchanges between North Korea and Russia, raising questions about their implications for global security. Further details provided by a military official shed light on the scale of these shipments.

It is estimated that around 2,000 containers filled with ammunition were transported from Rason port in northeastern North Korea to Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, as reported by Kyodo.

After the meeting between the Russian and North Korean presidents, deliveries became even more intense

The United States had previously expressed concerns regarding North Korea's activities, revealing that more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition had been sent to Russia between September 7 and October 1.

In addition, South Korean military sources noted that these arms shipments from North Korea to Russia intensified during the month of October. These reports suggest a continuous flow of weaponry from North Korea to Russia, which may have commenced as early as mid-2022.

The frequency of these shipments appeared to have increased following a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian Far East in September, raising questions about the nature and purpose of this cooperation.

The situation is of significant concern on the global stage, as it has the potential to impact the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and raise broader security and diplomatic challenges.