North Korea has significantly increased deliveries of military equipment, weapons, and ammunition to Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, as reported by The Defense Post.
According to the latest data from South Korean intelligence and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Pyongyang has already sent approximately 33,000 containers of military cargo. This is 28,000 more than recorded in July 2025, when 28,000 containers were reported delivered. The main transport hub for these shipments remains the port of Rajin, located near the border between the two countries.
These containers hold ammunition totaling over 15 million 152mm artillery shells. In addition, North Korea has delivered 220 artillery pieces to Russia, including 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 240mm multiple rocket launch systems. It is believed that Pyongyang is also supplying Moscow with additional types of weapons, including anti-tank missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and anti-tank rocket rounds. This military cooperation is conducted under a mutual defense agreement signed by the leaders of the two countries in June 2024 and officially implemented in December of the same year.
Pyongyang’s support is not limited to equipment alone. Reports indicate that more than 16,000 North Korean military personnel have been deployed near the Russian-Ukrainian border. These units are assigned tasks such as facility security, military construction, or engineering work. There is also information suggesting that some of them have taken part directly in combat operations. Of the thousands of soldiers sent to Russia, about 1,000 returned home in December; however, U.S. intelligence estimates that they are likely to be redeployed to Russian territory.
North Korea is actively filling resource gaps that Moscow cannot address independently or procure in time due to numerous international sanctions imposed during the war. In turn, the isolationist regime seeks not only financial benefits from this cooperation but also access to advanced military technologies and valuable combat experience in real conflict conditions.
