North Korea is now a key supplier of ammunition and military personnel to the Russian Federation in its ongoing war against Ukraine, according to South Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Joonkook Hwang. During a United Nations Security Council meeting, Ambassador Hwang revealed that nearly half of all Russian ammunition currently used on the battlefield is being supplied by Pyongyang. This alarming disclosure has raised international concerns over the growing partnership between two of the world’s most repressive regimes.
Ambassador Hwang stated that North Korean artillery systems have directly caused the deaths of innocent Ukrainian civilians, including during attacks as recent as the previous Sunday. He highlighted that this military support from North Korea has significantly increased over the past one and a half years. According to South Korean intelligence, as many as 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, further entrenching their involvement in the Kremlin’s war of aggression.
North Korea has officially confirmed its military support for Russia under a mutual defence agreement. This marks a turning point, as Moscow had previously denied such cooperation. Evidence from the front lines, including recent fighting in the Kursk region, shows North Korean soldiers participating alongside Russian forces.
The United States Department of State has also condemned North Korea’s role in extending the war in Ukraine, holding Pyongyang directly responsible for fuelling continued violence and loss of life. With this revelation, North Korea becomes more than a silent backer of the Kremlin’s war effort. It is now an active participant in enabling war crimes, civilian casualties and the prolonged suffering of the Ukrainian people.
