North Korean weapons 'almost certainly' being shipped to western Russia

The information was released after the US revealed that North Korea had transferred more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia, at the time when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had a rare meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

The British Ministry of Defense believes that the possibility of recent arms transfers between North Korea and Russia is 'almost certain'. (Source: Reuters)

It is “almost certain” that North Korean munitions have reached western Russia for use in the conflict with Ukraine, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, amid speculation about Pyongyang transferring weapons to Moscow.

“Despite Russia’s official denial of recent speculation, it is almost certain that North Korean ammunition has now been transferred to ammunition depots in western Russia. These depots support Russia’s military operations in Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement on social network X (formerly Twitter).

The agency also added that if it continues to send military-related shipments at the current rate, North Korea will become one of Russia's important foreign arms suppliers, alongside Iran and Belarus.

Recently, many countries have protested and said that this suspected arms deal violates many sanctions resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, which prohibit all arms trade with North Korea, which Russia itself voted for.

The US government revealed on October 13 that North Korea had shipped more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia in recent weeks, possibly for use in the conflict in Ukraine. The move, according to the White House, demonstrated growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Shortly thereafter, the Washington Post (USA) on October 16 published satellite images showing that two Moscow ships had made at least five round trips between North Korea and Russia, starting in mid-August. This action is believed to be transporting weapons between the two countries.

Based on analysis by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a London-based think tank, the ships moved between the port of Najin, in northeastern North Korea, and a port facility in Dunay, in Russia's Far East, from mid-August to October 14.

The source also said that the shipment certainly began in mid-August, just three weeks after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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