Seoul feared that North Korea would have access to "sensitive" Russian military technologies

Defence blog: North Korea could have received almost $15 billion for weapons sent to Russia

North Korea could have received billions of dollars through military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation, including the sale of large batches of military equipment and ammunition. This is stated in a report by the South Korean Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), Defence blog writes.

South Korean analysts claim that North Korea and Russia began actively cooperating in 2023. Satellite images, as well as data from open sources, allegedly indicate that Pyongyang supplied Moscow with artillery shells, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), self-propelled artillery installations and ballistic missiles.

INSS Senior Researcher Lim Soo-ho stated that the deal with Russia will help North Korea weaken the effect of UN sanctions. In this case, we are talking about a complete ban on selling/buying weapons and military equipment. The embargo, which has been in effect since 2006, also covers missile technologies, nuclear materials and heavy weapons.

The INSS claims that cash inflows from Russia from August 2023 to December 2024 range from $7.76 billion to $14.4 billion. According to Lim Soo-ho, these figures may constitute only 4% to 19.6% of the total amount of contracts.

Most likely, Russia will pay the bulk later or transfer to North Korea "sensitive" military technologies, related high-precision components and materials.
Lim Soo-ho, researcher at INSS

The West has repeatedly claimed that Russia receives equipment and weapons from North Korea. Certain images with containers, which were allegedly transported from one country to another, were used as "evidence".

It was alleged that Pyongyang sent to the Russian Federation about 12 million artillery shells, about 100 Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles (KN-23/24), Bulsae-4 ATGM and Koksan self-propelled howitzers. At the same time, Russian officials, including representatives of the Ministry of Defense, did not confirm these deliveries.

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