North Korea supplies Russia with millions of shells for Ukraine war

Shin Won Sik, the South Korean Minister of Defense, revealed that approximately 5.2 million artillery shells had been sent from North Korea to Russia. He suggested that these shells were intended for use in the invasion of Ukraine. Shin emphasized that this is the beginning of a tightening relationship between these two countries.

Shin Won Sik, the head of South Korea's defense ministry, mentioned in his comments to the Japanese newspaper "Yomiuri Shimbun," which appeared on Tuesday that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is deepening.

By July 15, at least 11 thousand containers containing a total of 5.2 million 6-inch artillery shells were sent from North Korea to Russia, he stated.

The minister noted that not only artillery shells were delivered, but "a dozen short-range ballistic missiles" were also sent. In exchange for the arms supplies, Pyongyang "received aid in the form of food, oil, and military technology."

Shin noted that "things gained momentum" after Kim Jong Un visited Russia in September last year. The North Korean leader then met with Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok.

In mid-June, the dictators signed a treaty on mutual aid in case of an attack. Szin called this treaty a "criminal conspiracy." It allows for the open implementation of "agreements on weapons, including artillery shells and missiles, which until now had been kept secret."

The head of the South Korean defense ministry said Russia can now receive artillery shells, missiles, and other equipment needed for the invasion of Ukraine from North Korea without restrictions. Shin added, "it is now possible for Moscow to request troops from the North Korean army." Although he could not disclose the basis of this statement, Shin noted that "such a situation is already happening," but these are not individuals being dispatched to the front.

Szin confirmed South Korea's stance that potential weapon supplies to Ukraine, which the Seoul government began to speak openly about at the end of June, depending on the level and specifics of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. So far, Seoul has provided Kyiv with so-called non-lethal weapons or sent weapons to countries that passed on their arms to the front.