North Korea's massive arms supply boostsRussiann artillery
The report from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) shows that the world did not foresee such a scale of support for Russia. The gathered data indicate that North Korea has already delivered over 9 million rounds of ammunition and a significant amount of heavy military equipment to Putin's army.
Earlier information, revealed by sources including Ukrainian intelligence, suggested a supply scale of about 6 million rounds of ammunition. The findings of MSMT - an international team monitoring sanctions against North Korea, established in October 2024 - shed new light on the cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
massive support from North Korea for Russia
According to the MSMT report, cargo ships flying the Russian flag transported as many as 9 million rounds of ammunition to the country. It is estimated that these were mainly artillery shells - from 4 to 5.5 million rounds of 120mm and 152mm calibre shells.
This kind of support is invaluable for Russia. Artillery, although considered obsolete by some, proves to be crucial in the war being waged in Ukraine (alongside drones). The artillery systems used by Putin's army (such as the 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Hyacinth, and 2S19 Msta) use 120mm and 152mm calibre shells. Reuters reported earlier this year that Russian troops fighting in Ukraine are now almost entirely dependent on artillery ammunition supplies from Pyongyang.
Not only ammunition, but also military equipment
The remaining ammunition from the indicated 9 million rounds mainly consists of rockets for multiple launch rocket systems, 81mm mortar shells, and anti-tank missiles. Additionally, according to the MSMT report, the Russian army also received about 100 ballistic missiles, enabling it to "intensify missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, including targeted strikes on critical civilian infrastructure." Reports from Ukrainians finding debris suggest these are KN-23 missiles. Their range is about 600 kilometres.
Regarding the heavy military equipment being transferred to Russia by the ally, MSMT pointed to multiple rocket launch systems with a 240mm diameter and long-range self-propelled artillery of 170mm calibre - Koksan M-1989 and Koksan M-1978 guns.
The MSMT report also contains information about approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers who reached the Kursk region in Russia, along with a note that North Korea is supplying not only old stock but also new missiles, which have been produced taking into account experiences from Ukraine.
"North Korea and Russia will continue and deepen military cooperation, at least in the foreseeable future, in defiance of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," reads the MSMT report.
