North Korea has ramped up its military supply containers, including ammunition and weapons, shipped to Russia amid its war with Ukraine, according to South Korean intelligence.
Seoul’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reported that Pyongyang delivered around 33,000 containers, marking an uptick from its announcement in July 2025 that noted about 28,000 containers shipped primarily using the Rajin Port near their shared border.
The containers include ammunition estimated to amount to over 15 million 152mm artillery shells, as well as 220 artillery pieces covering 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 240mm multiple rocket launchers, as per Yonhap News Agency.
Pyongyang is also believed to be supplying Moscow with more weapons, including anti-tank missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and anti-tank rockets.
These form part of the mutual defense agreement the countries signed in June 2024, which took effect in December of the same year.
Support for Russia
North Korea’s support for Moscow also includes sending more than 16,000 troops, which were deployed near the Russia-Ukraine border and assigned to either guard, military construction, or engineering duties.
Some were also indicated to have taken part in combat operations. From the thousands dispatched, around 1,000 returned home in December but were likely to be redeployed to Russia, the DIA said.
North Korea is addressing gaps that Moscow cannot produce or procure in time due to numerous sanctions amid the war, as the isolationist regime seeks to acquire money as well as advanced military technologies and military training.
However, the DIA noted “signs that their cooperation in defense technology and advanced industries is falling short of the North’s expectations,” as Pyongyang has reportedly received far less in return from Moscow.
