North Korea supplies Russia with nearly half of its artillery ammunition
After the outbreak of full-scale war against Ukraine, North Korea became one of Russia’s key military partners. Pyongyang is actively supplying Moscow with missiles, artillery shells, and other weapons.
According to available data, the DPRK currently covers between 25 and 40 percent of the Russian army’s needs for artillery ammunition, significantly bolstering the aggressor country’s military capabilities.
Furthermore, from 2023 to the present, the DPRK has continued to supply Russia with thousands of ballistic missiles and hundreds of artillery systems.
The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) confirms Russia’s cooperation with North Korea
Ukrainian military intelligence stated that the scale and regularity of these deliveries indicate that military-technical cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has become systematic. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate’s assessment, North Korea currently holds a key position among Russia’s foreign suppliers of weapons and military equipment, providing between a quarter and two-fifths of the artillery ammunition used by Russian troops.
Since June 2023, Russia has received more than 100 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles from North Korea, along with their launchers. According to intelligence reports, at least 80 of these missiles have already been used.
Russia’s first recorded use of North Korean ballistic missiles took place on December 29, 2023, when one missile struck the Zaporizhzhia region. The missiles were used again on January 2, 2024, during a massive strike on Kharkiv, which killed two people and injured 62. According to reports from 2025, the missiles’ accuracy improved as the war progressed.
North Korean Artillery and MLRS
Pyongyang has also deployed more than 600 artillery systems of various types and calibers, including 170-mm M-1989 “Koksan” self-propelled artillery pieces, M-1991 240-mm multiple rocket launchers, Type 63 107-mm rocket launchers, self-propelled anti-tank missile systems, D-74 122-mm towed guns, and Type 76 140-mm mortars.
In addition, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate, the North Korean regime has transferred more than 7 million rounds of ammunition to the Russians, including mortar, artillery, tank, and rocket ammunition ranging in caliber from 82 to 240 mm, as well as anti-tank guided missiles.
The Main Intelligence Directorate stated that North Korea’s defense industry is capable of producing between 1 and 2 million artillery shells per year, with a minimum monthly production capacity of 30,000 to 50,000 shells.
North Korea is profiting from the war against Ukraine
Ukrainian intelligence also confirms that arms sales to Russia have brought North Korea billions of dollars. These arms sales and troop deployments have helped secure supplies of energy resources and construction materials, allowing North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to launch a nationwide construction boom and expand energy supplies, despite UN sanctions.
According to Western media reports, North Korea’s economy grew by nearly 4% in 2024 (the fastest growth rate in eight years) and continues to grow, while satellite images show that the country glows three times brighter at night than it did five years ago, especially in industrial areas.
This new economic growth has transformed daily life, especially in Pyongyang. The capital has introduced QR code payments, started using Chinese electric vehicles, and opened pet stores and gaming cafes. It is reported that last year North Korea built about 10,000 new homes in its capital, with Kim Jong Un stating that “everything has changed dramatically.”
This is according to a report in the Kyiv Post.
South Korea has provided Ukraine with a new $100 million aid package.
Ukraine and South Korea have recently been strengthening their cooperation in the areas of security and aid. Kyiv is calling on international partners to continue their support to counter Russian aggression. The new aid package from Seoul is intended to be another step in supporting Ukraine amid a full-scale war. The Ukrainian foreign minister announced this to reporters during a briefing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish President Karol Nawrocki may hold their first in-person meeting in the near future. After a brief conversation, the leaders agreed to try to coordinate their schedules during the NATO summit. The parties are working to ensure that the meeting takes place in the near future.
