South Korean Intelligence Agency Believes North Korea Sent 33,000 Containers of Military Equipment to Russia
JAKARTA - North Korea is believed to have sent around 33,000 containers of military equipment, including weapons and ammunition, to Russia as part of its support for Moscow in the war with Ukraine, South Korea's military intelligence unit said on Sunday.
"The volume of shipments, in terms of ammunition, could reach more than 15 million 152 mm artillery shells," the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) under the Ministry of Defense said in a report submitted to Congressman Kang Dae-sik of the People's Power Party, the main opposition party, as reported by The Korea Times (2/3).
The assessment marks an increase from the DIA's announcement in July last year that some 28,000 containers of military equipment had been shipped from North Korea to Russia.
North Korea is known to mostly use the Rajin Port near the border with Russia to ship containers by sea.
Pyongyang is also believed to have supplied 220 artillery guns, including 170 mm self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm multi-barrel rocket launchers, the Kang office said, citing a DIA report.
In addition, North Korea is suspected of sending other weapons, including 122 mm and 152 mm shells, anti-tank missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and anti-tank rockets to Russia.
Since October 2024, North Korea has sent more than 16,000 troops to support Russia in the war, according to the DIA assessment.
Of that number, about 1,000 returned home in December, but are likely to be deployed back to Russia, according to the DIA.
North Korea and Russia have increased cooperation in the military, diplomatic and economic fields since signing a bilateral pact in June 2024, he said.
"However, there are signs that their cooperation in defense technology and advanced industries does not meet North Korea's expectations," the DIA added.
Pyongyang itself is widely seen as seeking to acquire key military technology, particularly that related to spy satellites, mini-nuclear weapons, and nuclear-powered submarines, from Russia in return for its support in the protracted war.