A UN monitoring committee reveals Pyongyang supplied 20,000 containers of missiles, artillery, and rocket launchers to support Moscow’s invasion.
The Russian military has significantly intensified its missile strikes on critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, using weapons supplied by North Korea, according to a report released by the United Nations Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Committee. The findings reveal not only Moscow’s growing dependence on Kim Jong-un’s regime but also the expanding depth of a military alliance that openly defies multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Since September 2023, North Korea has shipped more than 20,000 containers of munitions to Russia, including up to nine million rounds of artillery and long-range rocket launchers, the report says. These weapons were delivered by sea, air, and rail, with at least 100 ballistic missiles and multiple self-propelled artillery systems documented in the transfers, according to sources cited by The Guardian.
Investigators warn that these North Korean missiles are being used “to destroy civilian infrastructure and terrorize densely populated areas such as Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.” The report also accuses Moscow and Pyongyang of engaging in “countless illegal activities” in violation of international resolutions.
“For the foreseeable future, North Korea and Russia intend to continue and deepen their military cooperation, contravening the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the monitoring team, which includes representatives from 11 countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, European Union members, and Japan, stated.
The growing partnership was formalized in June 2024, when President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty that commits both nations to assist each other in the event of external aggression, The Guardian reported.
In exchange for these shipments, Russia has reportedly provided North Korea with advanced technology and technical assistance aimed at improving its ballistic missile programs and electronic warfare systems. According to the report, this cooperation has resulted in marked improvements in the accuracy and performance of North Korean missile guidance systems.
One of the most alarming revelations in the document is the reported direct involvement of North Korean military personnel in the war. In 2024, roughly 11,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Ukraine to support Russian forces, with an additional 3,000 troops recently joining the frontlines. South Korea has expressed deep concern over this deployment, warning that it gives Pyongyang a rare chance to gain real battlefield experience.
Last month, both Kim and Putin publicly acknowledged, for the first time, that North Korea has sent troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, hailing them as “heroes.”
The monitoring committee was established in 2024 following Russia’s veto of the renewal of the Security Council’s expert panel overseeing North Korean sanctions, The Guardian detailed.
The report underscores how the supply of advanced weaponry, technology exchanges, and on-the-ground troop deployments reflect an unprecedented level of coordination between Moscow and Pyongyang — one that risks prolonging and intensifying the conflict.
Against this backdrop, the international community faces an urgent challenge: how to strengthen oversight and exert effective pressure to halt this illicit collaboration, which threatens not only regional stability but also global security.
Keep Independent Journalism Alive
In a world flooded with noise, independent journalism is more vital than ever. We work hard to bring you clear, accurate, and unbiased international news — free from corporate or political influence.If you believe in the power of honest reporting, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, big or small, helps us stay independent and keep the world informed.
Support us via PayPalYour support makes a difference.
