North Korean ammunition factories are running at full capacity to supply weapons to Russia in exchange for much-needed food and other essentials for the DPRK.
This was stated by South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.
— While North Korea's weapons factories are operating at 30% capacity due to shortages of raw materials and electricity, some factories are operating at full capacity, which mainly produce weapons and shells for Russia, — Shin said at a meeting with reporters.
North Korea has supplied about 6,700 containers to Russia since the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in September, he said. According to experts, this quantity is enough to accommodate about 3 million shells for 152-mm artillery or 500 thousand shells for 122-mm artillery.
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In exchange for supplying weapons to Russia, North Korea appears to be receiving food and other necessities, as well as raw materials and parts used in weapons production, Shin said.
The volume of containers sent from Russia to North Korea is believed to be about 30% greater than the volume of containers sent from North Korea to Russia over the period, he noted.
— It appears that the largest share (of supplies from Russia, — Red.) is food, which is believed to have stabilized food prices in North Korea , as well as other essential goods, — Shin said.
RF transfers technology to North Korea
Moscow also likely supplied Pyongyang with satellite-related technology, the minister said, as the country launched its first spy satellite into orbit in November and has promised to launch three more this year.
Although the spy satellite is already orbiting the Earth, Shin expressed skepticism about the DPRK's claim that the satellite is capable of photographing major military installations in South Korea and the United States.
— It shows no signs of functioning and just sits idle in orbit, — he said.
If Russia's dependence on North Korean munitions and weapons continues to grow, then, according to Shin, the scope of Russian military technology assistance will likely expand in the future.
— It is unclear to what extent Russia will offer the aircraft and ground technology that North Korea is seeking. However, if Russia continues to receive more ammunition from North Korea, technology transfers could increase, — he said.
President Vladimir Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine has evidence that the Russian army is using artillery and missiles made in North Korea. Moreover, according to Zelensky, Russia has received more than 10 thousand containers with artillery shells from the DPRK since the fall.
