North Korea has notably ramped up its military assistance to Russia, now providing as much as 40% of Moscow’s ammunition requirements to fight the war in Ukraine. Pyongyang has sent over 28,000 containers of artillery shells and other types of munitions since the war started in 2022, the South Korea’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) said. The assistance is worth more than 12 million rounds of 152-millimetre artillery shells.
Ukrainian military intelligence confirms that North Korean assistance now also comprises, apart from ammunition, missiles, artillery pieces, self-propelled guns, and even manpower. Money and technology are given by Russia to North Korea in return, further cementing their alliance and diluting international pressure on Kim Jong Un’s government.
Massive Ammunition Shipments Revealed
South Korea’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) provided lawmaker Kang Daeshik with detailed evidence confirming the scale of North Korea’s military shipments to Russia. The cargo—over 28,000 containers—mostly holds artillery shells. When translated into standard military use, this equals more than 12 million rounds of 152mm artillery shells, widely used by both Russian and Ukrainian forces in front-line warfare.
These containers have been moved through multiple routes, including North Korean ports and the rail networks connecting the two nations. Satellite imagery, customs records, and logistical tracking have supported these findings, showing consistent traffic between North Korean and Russian military facilities.
The DIA emphasized that this arms flow is not just historical—it remains active. “North Korea continues to provide weapons to Russia,” the agency stated. Analysts believe the volume of shipments has increased over the past several months as Russia scrambles to replenish its depleted stockpiles.
Support Extends Beyond Shells
North Korea’s military aid no longer consists of ammunition. Pyongyang has since early in the invasion begun extending its assistance to missiles and mobile artillery systems. Ukrainian intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov made the revelation that Kim’s regime is even deploying personnel to help Russian troops on the battlefield.
Kyrylo Budanov further mentioned that North Korean weapons are effective during combat. “They are good weapons,” he said in a statement to Bloomberg, affirming the quality of arms supplied.
Russia Finds Allies, North Korea Finds Bargaining Power
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, was in Pyongyang last week. The North Korean authorities fully supported the Kremlin’s war effort in Ukraine. As a response, Russia has begun transferring sensitive technology and financial assistance to North Korea. This transaction increases the military strength of North Korea and allows it to circumvent world sanctions and diplomatic exclusion.
As the conflict drags on, the expanding Russian-Pyongyang military pipeline might drive battlefield balance further yet—and reshuffle alliances well beyond Eastern Europe.
