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North Korea supplies more than 1,000 ammunition containers to Russia – US Ambassador to NATO

Thursday, 21 December 2023, 01:25
North Korea supplies more than 1,000 ammunition containers to Russia – US Ambassador to NATO
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND NORTH KOREAN PRESIDENT KIM JONG UN. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

The US has information, confirmed by satellite images, that North Korea has shipped more than a thousand ammunition containers to Russia.

Source: US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith at a briefing

Quote from Smith: "We do have new information that the DPRK [North Korea - ed.] recently delivered even more arms to Russia for use in their war against Ukraine, and our information does indicate that the DPRK has provided Russia with more than a thousand containers of military equipment and munitions." 

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"We've been very strong in our condemnation for the DPRK or to the DPRK for providing that kind of equipment to the Russians, which no doubt will be used to attack the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian cities, and further Russia’s illegitimate war."

Details: She also reported the availability of satellite images showing the movement of these containers from North Korea to Russia on cargo vessels.

She reports that the United States believes that Pyongyang wants to receive other military technologies from Russia in exchange for ammunition. It is possible that Pyongyang's wish list includes fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment and other weapons.

Smith emphasised that the United States will continue to monitor the situation and identify any attempts to supply Russia with weapons.

Background:

  • In November, it became known that the DPRK, according to South Korean media, had provided Russia with more than a million rounds of artillery for use in the war against Ukraine, and had also sent advisers to Russia on the use of this ammunition, which would last for about two months.
  • Pyongyang has one of the world's largest stockpiles of artillery shells and missiles compatible with the Soviet-era weapons used by Russia in Ukraine. Cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has intensified as both countries find themselves in global isolation, with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin holding a summit in Russia in September. 
  • In October, the White House announced that Kim Jong Un had provided 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia. 

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