NORTH KOREA MIGHT BE SENDING WEAPONS TO MOSCOW: REPORT

Mon 16 October 2023:

The Washington Post said in a report on Monday, October 16, citing satellite pictures, that Russian ships linked to military transport networks have reportedly picked up cargo from North Korea and transported it to an apparent Russian military port on several times during the last two months. Thus yet, there has been no more convincing proof that North Korea could be assisting Moscow in its war effort.

The study states that until August, neither of the two ships’ records indicated that they had traveled this route between North Korea and Russia. After that, US intelligence assessments indicated that Russia was seeking North Korean weapons to replace the supplies it was running low on for the war it was still fighting in Ukraine.

Satellite images provided by the London-based Royal United Services Institute showed that two ships- the Angara and the Maria- have been plying the route between the North Korean port of Rajin and a secure port facility in Russia’s Dunai, making at least five round trips beginning mid-August through last Saturday.

As per RUSI analysts and US officials, the images showed ships linked to the Russian military logistics network which strongly suggested that these commercial vessels were carrying military equipment.

“This will have a very serious effect on the trajectory of the war,” Jack Watling from the RUSI said, adding that North Korea has the ability to manufacture a lot of ammunition and the country also has significant stockpiles.

The Washington Post reported that around the time the shipments began, munition pits were rapidly expanded at an ammunition depot near the Ukrainian border.

“We condemn the DPRK (North Korea’s official name) for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians, and further Russia’s illegitimate war,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters

“We will continue to monitor for any additional DPRK arms shipments to Russia,” he added.

Citing data from Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking site, the report said the two vessels went dark shortly before they began operating on this route by turning off the signal of their automatic identification system. This allowed the vessels to hide their position as they transited between ports.

The images showed two vessels making multiple trips between Dunai and Rajin, picking up and delivering cargo at each location.
Last Friday, the White House said that North Korea delivered over 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine.

John Kirby also said that the expanding military partnership between North Korea and Russia including any technology transfers from Moscow to Pyongyang undermined regional stability and the global non-proliferation regime.

White House national security spokesman also said that the US also believes Kim is seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies to boost North Korea’s nuclear program — in return for munitions to replenish Russian stockpiles drained by the war in Ukraine.

The US says it will continue to enforce sanctions, expose the alleged arms deals, and make the case at the United Nations that the actions violate security council resolutions.

“We will continue to monitor for any additional [North Korean] arms shipments to Russia,” Kirby said.

“We will not allow [North Korea] to aid Russia’s war machine in secret. And the world should know about the support that Russia may again may provide [North Korea] in return.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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