North Korea may become one of Russia’s most significant foreign arms suppliers - UK intel

North Korea may become one of the most important arms suppliers to Russia, along with Iran and Belarus.

The UK Ministry of Defence said this in an intelligence update posted on the social platform X Ukrinform reports.

“Despite Russia’s official rejection of recent reports, it is almost certain that North Korean munitions have now reached ammunition depots in western Russia. These depots support Russian military operations in Ukraine,” the report says.

It is noted that if North Korea sustains the recent scale and pace of military-related shipments (more than 1,000 containers over the last several weeks), it will be on course to become one of Russia’s most significant foreign arms suppliers, alongside Iran and Belarus.

It is currently unclear what Russia has agreed to provide North Korea in return. It is unlikely the full package has been finalised; it was highly likely one of the primary discussion topics during recent senior level Russian visits to North Korea, the British intelligence notes.

“It will likely include a mixture of financial compensation, other economic support, the provision of military technology, and cooperation on other high technology areas, such as space,” the UK intelligence said.

As reported by Ukrinform, 509 children have been killed and more than 1,139 injured in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s full scale invasion.