Ukraine intelligence: North Korea supplies up to half of Russia’s ammunition

North Korea has become one of the main suppliers of weapons to the Russian army, now covering up to half of its ammunition needs, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Ukrinform reported.

“Currently, North Korea provides between 35% and 50% of Russia’s ammunition supply, shipping about 200,000 to 260,000 shells of 152 mm and 122 mm calibres each month,” said intelligence officer Oleh Aleksandrov.

Pyongyang has also delivered multiple rocket launchers and short-range ballistic missiles, including KN-23 and KN-24 systems, with which Russia uses to strike Ukrainian cities.

Aleksandrov said that both Russia and North Korea are using the war against Ukraine as a testing ground to refine North Korean weapons.

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that between 8,500 and 13,000 North Korean soldiers are currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk Region. Their presence allows Moscow to redeploy its own troops to the front lines in Ukraine.

In September, intelligence recorded the arrival of another 1,000 North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region — among them engineers, sappers, and construction specialists.

The Kremlin is also importing North Korean labor migrants to compensate for workforce shortages that are caused by troop callups. 

More than 17,800 North Koreans are currently employed in Russia, with another 26,000 expected to be hired soon, including around 6,000 for construction work in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.