North Korea’s arsenal fuels Russia’s war: Secret arms, troop deployments, and sanctions defied

A new wave of international concern is rising as mounting evidence reveals the depth of North Korea’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to a landmark report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT)—a coalition of 11 nations including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States—North Korea has supplied Russia with over 20,000 shipping containers of munitions and up to nine million rounds of mixed artillery and rocket launcher ammunition, enabling Moscow to escalate missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical civilian infrastructure.

This clandestine partnership, which directly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, is reshaping the balance of power on the Ukrainian battlefield.

A Web of Illicit Arms Transfers

The MSMT documented a “myriad of unlawful activities” between Moscow and Pyongyang. These include not only artillery and missile transfers, but also the delivery of combat vehicles and advanced weaponry. Ukrainian officials have reported that about one-third of recent Russian ballistic missile strikes have involved North Korean-made arms.

In exchange, North Korea has received crucial military technology, air defense systems, and refined petroleum products from Russia—often exceeding UN-imposed annual caps. The report also highlights ongoing banking relations and technical cooperation, further entrenching the alliance.

Troops on the Front Lines

Beyond weapons, North Korea’s commitment has extended to manpower. South Korean and Western intelligence estimate that Pyongyang has sent over 10,000 troops to Russia, with thousands reportedly already engaged in combat in Ukraine. Recent deployments included an additional 3,000 soldiers earlier this year, with significant casualties reported among North Korean forces.

This military alliance was formalized in June 2024, when Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense treaty, vowing to provide immediate military support if either nation is attacked. Both leaders have publicly defended their cooperation: Kim Jong Un declared North Korea’s “unwavering support” for Russia’s efforts to “defend its sovereignty,” framing the partnership as a bulwark against what he calls “imperialist ambitions” of the West.

The repercussions are global. The United States, South Korea, and Japan have condemned the partnership, warning it prolongs the suffering in Ukraine and destabilizes the Korean peninsula. Meanwhile, Moscow and Pyongyang continue to deny the arms transfers, despite overwhelming evidence and satellite imagery showing expanded North Korean weapons production facilities.

A New Era of Sanctions Evasion

With Russia aiding North Korea’s missile and satellite programs, and North Korean arms fueling Russia’s war machine, the two authoritarian states are openly defying international sanctions. The MSMT warns that this cooperation is likely to expand, posing new challenges for global security and the enforcement of international law.

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the North Korea-Russia axis stands as a stark reminder of how old alliances—and new weapons—are reshaping the world’s most dangerous conflicts.