Russia-Ukraine war: US says Russia is buying artillery shells, rockets from North Korea

Declassified intelligence reports from the United States found that Russia may be purchasing additional artillery shells and rockets from North Korea. The purchasing of additional arms and equipment from North Korea was a result of sanctions imposed by the West.

A report by the New York Times found that Russia is purchasing millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea, citing declassified intelligence. However, the intelligence reports did not disclose further details on the artillery shells and rockets being purchased, and the New York Times said Moscow was likely going to purchase additional military equipment from Pyongyang in the future.

The Associated Press reported that Russia’s purchasing of military arms from North Korea indicates that the Russian military is suffering from supply shortages in Ukraine, because of export controls and sanctions, according to a US official familiar with the matter.

Following its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has also strengthened ties with North Korea and Iran. Washington has previously said that Russia was also buying drones from Iran. Iran did not condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and instead blamed the NATO alliance’s expansion in eastern Europe as the cause of the war.

Ukraine also severed ties with North Korea back in July. Pyongyang joined Russia and Syria in recognizing the independence of two so-called republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are held by pro-Russian separatists.

A point of escalation in the war was the fighting that occurred near the area of Zaporizhzhia, where Europe’s largest power plant is located. The UN nuclear watchdog has called for the establishment of a security zone around the nuclear facility in the region occupied by Russian forces. Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling the site.

“The current situation is untenable,” said the International Atomic Energy Agency in its report Tuesday. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi also briefed the UN Security Council on its findings on the same day.

“There is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means,” said the agency. “This can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone.”