Title: North Korea’s Munitions Factories Operating at Full Capacity to Produce Weapons for Russia Amid Ukraine Crisis
The clandestine role of North Korea in resupplying Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine has come to light with the latest estimation from South Korea’s Defense Minister, Shin Won-sik. According to him, North Korea’s munitions factories are operating at full capacity to produce weapons and artillery shells for Russia, while these same factories operate at only 30% capacity for non-Russian exports due to raw material and electricity shortages.
This crucial but highly secretive partnership between North Korea and Russia assumes significance in the context of Ukraine’s need for vital military resupplies being held up by predominantly Republican lawmakers in the US Congress. The conflict, now entering its third year, has seen both sides exchange heavy fire daily, leading to significant depletion of ammunition supplies.
The weapons and military equipment, which include millions of rounds of artillery shells, are being delivered to Russia in exchange for food and other necessities, according to South Korean sources. Since August 2022, Pyongyang has shipped approximately 6,700 containers filled with weapons and artillery shells to Russia. The containers could accommodate more than 3 million rounds of 152 mm artillery shells or over half a million rounds of 122 mm multiple rocket launchers.
Meanwhile, food comprises the largest portion of containers coming from Russia to North Korea, and the food supply situation in the isolated Asian nation appears to be “stable.” According to a fact sheet released by the US State Department on March 31, 2023, North Korea has delivered over 10,000 containers of munitions or related materials to Russia since September 2022.
The timing of these deliveries is critical for Russia’s war effort against Ukraine, as Moscow attempts to break the “stalemate” along the nearly 1,000-kilometer front lines by conducting a flurry of offensives. Ukraine faces challenges on multiple fronts, including manpower constraints and dwindling ammunition supplies from the West.
The US and its allies are growing increasingly concerned about the ties between North Korea and Russia, as evidenced by the deliveries of munitions. Intelligence officials in Washington have warned that North Korea will “pay a price” if it provides weapons to Moscow for use against Ukraine. Moreover, there are concerns about the technology that North Korea is seeking from Russia in exchange for weaponry, which could significantly advance North Korea’s capabilities in areas it has not fully developed.
In September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for a summit in Russia’s far east, further solidifying their relationship amid international isolation over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. North Korea, which faces shortages of hard cash, food, and technology, has been seeking to strengthen ties with Russia in the face of international sanctions.
Despite these concerns, there is little that can be done to prevent North Korea from supplying Russia with weapons and artillery shells, as the UN Security Council lacks the political will to enforce existing sanctions effectively. The situation remains a complex geopolitical challenge that will require careful monitoring and diplomatic efforts to mitigate the risks and ensure regional stability.
