North Korea ramps up arms supplies to Russia in Ukraine conflict
North Korea delivered about 20,000 containers to Russia, which, according to data from the South Korean military, could hold up to 9.4 million 6-inch calibre missiles, reported Kang Dae-sik, a member of the People Power Party, on Wednesday, citing a report from the Ministry of Defence in Seoul.
- According to the report, North Korean arms factories supplying weapons to Russia are currently operating at full capacity - warned the parliamentarian.
Although the missile deliveries to Russia have not yet reduced North Korean stockpiles, further increasing such operations could lead to ammunition shortages for North Korea's own soldiers, affecting military training.
200 factories working for Moscow
The document emphasized that around 200 factories producing ammunition are operating in North Korea, with the most important ones currently fully utilized to produce weapons for Moscow. Monthly production data is limited, however, as these factories are located in underground facilities.
According to the latest information presented by the parliamentary member, North Korea has so far sent about 20,000 containers to Russia through the Rason port. Military estimates suggest that if these containers were filled with 6-inch calibre missiles, Russia could have received about 9.4 million missiles.
UN sanctions and their enforcement
The report also draws attention to issues with enforcing UN Security Council sanctions imposed on Pyongyang. It was found that a North Korean ballistic missile launched in January by Russia over Ukraine contained components originating from companies in the USA and Europe.
Since North Korea has difficulties obtaining semiconductors, whose supplies are banned under the sanctions, (the military) dismantles components from commercial goods and uses them in its weaponry, reads the report.
However, the use of these components causes low precision and high unreliability of the weapons reaching Russian forces in Ukraine.
