War in Ukraine: North Korea has delivered thousands of shells to Russia, worries South Korea

 

According to a Seoul count, no fewer than 10,000 containers capable of carrying 4.8 million shells have sailed from North Korea to Russia.

 

Pyongyang is accused of supplying arms to the Kremlin in support of the war in Ukraine. Both North Korea and Russia are subject to heavy international sanctions and have tightened relations since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

  

"We expect (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to seek closer security ties with North Korea, particularly in terms of military equipment," said Shin Won-sik. According to the South Korean minister, Pyongyang has already delivered dozens of ballistic missiles to support Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. In exchange, North Korea receives technological support to deploy spy satellites and more conventional weapons, such as tanks and aircraft. 

  

Vladimir Putin is expected in North Korea next week, according to the South Korean daily DongA Ilbo. The visit had been announced by the Kremlin at the end of May, without specifying any dates. It will be the Russian president's first trip to North Korea since July 2000. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was welcomed to Russia in September 2023.

 

These meetings have raised concerns among Ukraine's Western allies about arms deliveries.

  

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had already denounced the loading of "thousands of containers onto trains in North Korea, sent to Russia near the Ukrainian front lines ».