North Korea Allegedly Supplies Over a Million Shells to Russia for Ukraine Conflict

National Intelligence Service briefs the National Assembly Intelligence Committee
1 million shells, equal to two months of wartime consumption
Finalizing reconnaissance satellite, seeking Russian technical advice

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea has observed that North Korea has handed over more than a million shells to support Russia’s war in Ukraine and received technical advice for reconnaissance satellites from Russia. In particular, it is assessed that the strategy to get on the new Cold War structure is being strengthened, as the situation where Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, instructed to “find a way to support Palestine comprehensively,” which is at war with Israel, is captured.

The NIS revealed in a confidential National Assembly Intelligence Committee audit held at the NIS building in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 1st, “It is understood that North Korea has transported various weapons more than 10 times using Russian ships and transport planes to support Russia’s war in Ukraine since early August.”

The NIS analyzed that the shells transported from North Korea’s Najin Port to Russia’s Dunai and Vostochny ports by ship appear to have arrived at the Tihoretsk ammunition depot near Ukraine by train. In the process, it was stated, “We understand that the number of shells exported in this way is more than a million,” and explained, “This is a quantity that can be used for more than two months in the Russia-Ukraine war.”

The NIS also reported to the Intelligence Committee that it had obtained evidence that North Korea dispatched a delegation mainly composed of artillery experts to Russia in mid-October to pass on the method of operating weapons. The NIS reported, “North Korea is fully operating its military factories to meet the demand for Russian military supplies, and civilians and civilian factories are also being mobilized to produce boxes for exporting ammunition.”

Regarding North Korea’s third launch of a ‘military reconnaissance satellite,’ it was stated, “We understand that the final preparations, such as checking the engine and launch device, are in full swing as the publicly announced launch date in October is postponed.” They added, “It seems they received technical advice from Russia, and we predict the success rate will increase.” However, they explained, “However, technology and funds are still lacking, and it seems that they have not secured the technology for reentry into the atmosphere of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and multiple warheads,” and “The development of nuclear-powered submarines equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) is still in a difficult stage.”

In addition, the NIS revealed that there is a situation where Chairman Kim Jong-un instructed to find a way to support Palestine, which is at war with Israel comprehensively. The NIS explained, “North Korea is estimated to be praying to use the Israel-Hamas war in various ways,” and “We have captured the situation where Kim Jong-un recently instructed to find a way to support Palestine comprehensively.”

In the process, it was diagnosed, “Since North Korea has a precedent of exporting tanks and artillery shells to Hamas and Hezbollah in the past, we believe that there is a possibility of attempting to sell weapons to armed groups in this region and third world countries,” and “Kim Jong-un confirmed the surprise attack by Hamas and reconfirmed the usefulness of long-range artillery and the importance of preemptive surprise attacks, which could increase his obsession with military adventurism.”

By. Jang Hee Jun