International observers have called for further investigation and renewed diplomatic efforts to curb the illegal arms trade between Pyongyang and Moscow.
North Korea supplied Russia with over 100 ballistic missiles and as many as nine million rounds of ammunition between September 2023 and December 2024, according to a new report by an international sanctions-monitoring body. The weapons transfer, reportedly aimed at bolstering Moscow's ongoing war effort in Ukraine, also included artillery shells, rocket launchers, and other military equipment.
The findings, published in a 30-page report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), detail how the weapons were used to support Russian operations that targeted civilian infrastructure in cities like Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. The report also highlights the presence of 14,000 North Korean troops and three heavy artillery units reportedly deployed to assist Russian forces.
In return, the MSMT claims, Russia may have provided Pyongyang with advanced military technology, including electronic warfare systems and at least one Pantsir air defense system. The Pantsir system is capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The transfers were allegedly carried out covertly using Russian cargo ships, allowing both nations to sidestep international scrutiny. Additionally, the report states that Moscow supported North Korea's missile development program by sharing data from its own ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The MSMT's revelations come amid growing concerns over deepening military cooperation between the two heavily sanctioned states, which could further destabilize international security and violate multiple United Nations resolutions.
The report includes detailed analysis of recovered Hwasong-11A short-range ballistic missile debris found in Ukraine, as well as ammunition from rocket launchers and anti-tank systems. It underscores the role of these weapons in what the watchdog described as acts of terror against Ukrainian civilians.
International observers have called for further investigation and renewed diplomatic efforts to curb the illegal arms trade between Pyongyang and Moscow.