North Korea has become a major supplier of ammunition for Russia’s war in Ukraine, providing up to 40% of Moscow’s artillery needs, according to new intelligence shared by South Korea and Ukraine.
South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reported on Sunday that Pyongyang has sent around 28,000 containers filled with weapons and ammunition to Russia—equivalent to more than 12 million rounds if converted into standard 6-inch artillery shells. The DIA emphasized that North Korea continues to supply arms to Russia and that the situation is being closely monitored in cooperation with allied nations.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, confirmed these figures in an interview with Bloomberg, adding that North Korea is also delivering ballistic missiles and artillery systems to bolster the Russian war effort.
In return, Russia is reportedly providing financial aid and advanced technology to Kim Jong-un’s regime, further deepening ties between the two authoritarian governments.
Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Pyongyang, where he stated that North Korea had expressed its “clear support” for Russia’s actions in Ukraine and reaffirmed its backing of the Kremlin’s leadership.
Analysts say this growing alliance is a critical factor in sustaining Russia’s military campaign. “North Korea’s defense industry is a major asset to Russia right now,” said Angelica Evans, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. “Moscow’s increasing reliance on Pyongyang highlights how its partners are fueling the war effort.”
Both Ukrainian and South Korean officials have sounded the alarm in recent months over Russia’s deepening military cooperation with North Korea, raising concerns about the conflict’s prolonged duration and expanding international involvement.
