Something is happening on the border of Russia and North Korea. Railroad traffic increased
American satellites have recorded an unprecedented increase in rail freight traffic at the Korean border. This could be weapons transports for Russia - suggests in the latest report the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.
12:46 AM EDT, October 9, 2023
Satellite images of the Tumangang train station, located near the border with Russia, taken on Thursday, October 8, show an unprecedented increase in freight train traffic - reported CSIS.
In the photo taken on Thursday, approximately 73 railcars can be seen. The level of rail traffic is significantly higher than that observed at the station over the last five years, even higher compared to levels pre-COVID-19 pandemic.
Tarps cover the containers
Taking into account that dictators Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin discussed military exchange and cooperation during their last meeting, an increase in railway traffic likely points to the supply of weapons and ammunition from North Korea to Russia - wrote CSIS, although they did note that tarpaulins covering the crates/containers make it impossible to clearly identify the transported goods. However, it was pointed out that the external characteristics of the transported cargoes differ from those observed at this railway station over the last five years.
The transfer of arms, ammunition, and other military equipment between the two countries would violate many UN Security Council resolutions and would be subject to additional sanctions by the United States and its allies - notes CSIS.
"Cooperation of Dictators"
The think tank reminded that Kim Jong Un's last visit to Russia took place on September 12-17.
The North Korean despot met with his Russian counterpart at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, and then visited the military aircraft production facilities in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, examined the latest Russian combat aircraft and hypersonic missile system, and inspected the Russian Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok.
