Russia Shipping North Korean Weapons, Satellite Images Suggest

Written by Jeppe W

Oct.17 - 2023 11:37 AM CET

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Photo: Shotterstuck
Photo: Shotterstuck

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Satellite images indicate that Russia is transporting "hundreds of containers" believed to be filled with North Korean armaments, potentially strengthening its warfare efforts against Ukraine.

This revelation is based on a recent report from the London-based think tank, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

The images show two cargo vessels "repeatedly transporting hundreds of containers likely packed with North Korean armaments" between the isolated Russian port of Dunai and through North Korea's Rajin port, not far from the border, the think tank said in a new report.

On Friday, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that North Korea has supplied up to 1,000 containers of "equipment and munitions" to the Kremlin between September 7 and October 1.

Despite their transponders being turned off, two Russian-flagged ships were spotted making several trips between North Korea and Russia since August. The shipments' ultimate destination appears to be an ammunition depot in the Russian town of Tikhoretsk, situated roughly 120 miles from the Ukrainian border.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has been fostering closer ties with North Korea, which has reciprocated with its "full and unconditional support" for Russia.