North Korea is currently Russia’s biggest arms supplier, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday.
Reports suggest that Moscow and Pyongyang’s military ties have grown significantly since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Budanov’s Remarks
Budanov stated that Russia was spending more on weapons and munitions than it could produce while struggling with quality control. “This is precisely what explains Russia’s search for weapons in other countries,” he said, noting that North Korea is currently Russia’s largest arms supplier. “They did transfer a significant amount of artillery ammunition. This allowed Russia to breathe a little,” he claimed.
“Without their [North Korea] help, the situation would have been catastrophic,” Budanov remarked.
Russia has reportedly struggled to produce ammunition and arms to keep up with their rate of use on the battlefield. As a result, the country has been forced to seek military support from countries like North Korea. “This has always been considered beneath them, it’s an indignity,” Budanov explained.
⚡️Budanov: North Korea currently Russia's largest arms supplier.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) January 21, 2024
North Korea is currently Russia's largest arms supplier, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov told the Financial Times in an interview published on Jan. 21.https://t.co/hOaxG6sK2j
Recently, the US and Ukraine disclosed that Russia used North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine for the first time in attacks on Kharkiv on 2 January.
Earlier this month, “Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine, including as part of its overnight aerial attack. We’re still assessing the impacts of these additional missiles,” National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby stated during a press briefing.
North Korea FM’s Recent Visit to Russia
According to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui was in Moscow on an official visit from 14-18 January. During the visit, Choe paid a courtesy call on Russian President Vladimir Putin, conversed with her counterpart Sergey Lavrov, and met with Alexandr Nobak, the Deputy PM of Russia.
Per the statement, talks between Choe and Lavrov presented an insightful discussion on issues related to developing bilateral ties, with a “focus on implementing the agreements resulting from the September summit between the leaders of the two countries at the Vostochny Space Launch Centre.”
North Korean state media reported that Choe and Russian officials expressed a “strong will to further strengthen strategic and tactical cooperation in defending the core interests of the two countries and establishing a new multi-polarised international order” during their meetings. Furthermore, officials of both countries expressed “serious concern” about the US’ increased military cooperation with its Asian allies, which they blamed for raising regional tensions and jeopardising North Korea’s sovereignty and security interests.
Additionally, the North Korean Foreign Ministry stated that Russia extended “deep thanks” to secretive regime for its “full support” in Moscow’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.
North Korea stresses alignment with Russia against US and says Putin could visit at an ‘early date’ https://t.co/h4k8Ue1Hz8
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2024
Putin’s North Korea Visit
“The [North Korean] government warmly welcomes President Putin to visit Pyongyang and is ready to greet the Korean people’s closest friend with the greatest sincerity,” the statement said. Putin, in turn, expressed thanks for Kim’s invitation to visit Pyongyang “at a convenient time, and expressed his willingness to visit [North Korea] at an early date.”
Both sides acknowledged that their cordial and cooperative relations serve as a “powerful strategic fortress and traction engine in defending international peace and security and promoting the building of a multi-polarised world.”
Growing Military Cooperation
The partnership between North Korea and Russia has raised international concerns about alleged arms cooperation, whereby the North provides Russia with weapons to help prolong its fighting in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for essential economic and military assistance to upgrade Kim’s forces.
Both Pyongyang and Moscow have dismissed Washington and Seoul’s allegations concerning North Korean arms deliveries to Russia.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reported on Monday that the UK provided satellite images of North Korean cargo shipments to Russia to a panel of UN experts to initiate an official probe into arms deals that violate international sanctions. The British media house obtained a confidential UK defence intelligence assessment that showed three Russian ships — the Maia, Angara, and Maria — loading containers at North Korea’s reinstated Najin port before transiting to Russian ports in the Far East.
“Russia’s use of North Korean weapons in Ukraine is a violation of multiple UN security council resolutions,” said a UN diplomat. “It undermines international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and exposes just how desperate Russia has become in its failed invasion.”
The report, along with other evidence from the US and other countries, was delivered to the UN panel of experts, which is expected to issue its final report next month, following suspicions that North Korean ammunition shipments to Russia increased significantly this year.