North Korea Emerges as Key Arms Supplier for Russia Amid Ongoing Conflict

In a significant development regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, North Korea has solidified its role as a crucial arms supplier for Russia. Recent investigations reveal that over the past 20 months, North Korea has supplied millions of artillery shells to the Russian military, a partnership that has proven vital for Russia's military efforts.

According to a report by Reuters and the Open Source Centre, North Korea has delivered an estimated six million artillery shells of various calibers, including 122-mm and 152-mm rounds. In exchange for these munitions, North Korea has received crude oil and advanced military technology from Russia. This arrangement highlights the depth of military collaboration between the two nations.

Analysts tracked 64 shipments containing approximately 16,000 containers sent from North Korea to warehouses near the Ukrainian border between September 2023 and March 2025. These shipments were transported from the North Korean port of Rajin to the Russian port of Vostochny before being moved by rail to their final destination. The cargo included not only artillery shells but also ammunition for multiple rocket launchers and even ballistic missiles.

Ukrainian military intelligence has indicated that Russia initially had around 15 to 20 million artillery shells at the start of the invasion, with approximately 13 million rounds expended over the course of the conflict. Currently, it is estimated that Russia has around three million shells left, while its military-industrial complex can only produce about two million shells annually. This shortfall underscores the importance of North Korean supplies, which are estimated to meet about two-thirds of Russia's artillery needs.

Experts suggest that the provision of North Korean arms has been strategically significant for Russia. Several military analysts argue that without this support, Russia may have faced severe setbacks in its campaigns, particularly in the Donbass region. The continued influx of North Korean munitions has allowed Russia to sustain its offensive operations against Ukrainian forces.

Despite the scale of the support, there are concerns regarding the reliability of North Korean munitions. Some military analysts have raised issues about the functionality and accuracy of these shells, noting that many of them date back to the 1970s and 1980s, with a significant portion failing to function as intended. However, other observers have indicated improvements in the precision of these munitions in recent deliveries.

North Korea's arms exports have reportedly generated substantial revenue for the regime, with estimates suggesting that the country has earned around $20 billion from its military supplies to Russia. Additionally, North Korea has engaged in technology transfers and has received significant quantities of oil as part of this partnership.

As the conflict continues, North Korea is expected to ramp up its arms production to further support Russia. Reports indicate that around 20 factories in North Korea may be involved in the manufacturing of munitions for Russian forces. Key suppliers include several prominent munitions plants, which have undergone modernization to enhance their production capabilities.

Furthermore, plans are underway for infrastructure improvements to facilitate the logistics of military supplies between the two nations, including the potential construction of a bridge over the Tumanna River to streamline transport.