North Korea Fuels Russia’s War Effort: Millions of Artillery Shells Sent to Ukraine Front
Staff Editor North Korea-Russia Alliance Strengthens as Artillery Shipments Flow
In a striking display of renewed cooperation, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen together at a military parade in Pyongyang this June. The event underscored a growing alliance that appears to be benefiting both nations, despite potential risks.
South Korean intelligence services have revealed the extent of this upgraded partnership. According to their reports, North Korea has been supplying Russia with substantial quantities of artillery ammunition, crucial for Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Since 2022, an estimated 13,000 shipping containers have been sent from North Korea to Russia, potentially containing up to 6 million artillery shells.
This volume significantly surpasses the efforts of Ukraine’s Western allies, who fell short of delivering 1 million shells by May 2024. The North Korean supply line is enabling Russia to sustain its military operations in Ukraine while potentially eroding international support for Kyiv.
In return, North Korea is reportedly receiving valuable technology, helping the isolated state advance despite international sanctions. This exchange has given new value to North Korea’s vast stockpiles of old-fashioned munitions, which have become vital in the Ukraine conflict’s trench warfare-like conditions.
The alliance also appears to be yielding diplomatic benefits for North Korea, with Russia using its UN Security Council veto to shield Pyongyang from international pressure. However, this closer relationship between Putin and Kim may strain Russia’s ties with China, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping expresses concern over potential power imbalances in East Asia.
While both leaders currently benefit from this renewed Cold War-era alliance, experts warn of potential long-term issues. Reports of poor-quality North Korean shells and concerns about sustained deliveries cast doubt on the partnership’s longevity.
As this alliance continues to evolve, its impact on regional stability and global geopolitics remains a subject of close international scrutiny.
