Russia buys millions of shells and missiles in North Korea, – NYT
North Korea has large stockpiles of ammunition, but their technical condition is in question. The fact of the purchase of shells from the DPRK testifies to the effectiveness of Western sanctions.
According to American intelligence, the Russian Federation purchases millions of artillery ammunition and missiles from North Korea. This is reported by The New York Times.
A few days after receiving the first batch of Iranian drones, American officials said that the Russian Federation had resorted to purchasing North Korean ammunition and missiles. This speaks to the work of sanctions and export controls conducted by the United States and Europe. They severely limit the places where the Kremlin could buy ammunition for its army.
American intelligence has provided little data from declassified information, so it is currently unknown how many ammunitions the Russian Armed Forces will receive, when, and what kind of weapons. The authors also note that they were unable to independently verify the fact of the sale. At the same time, the US states that in addition to short-range missiles and artillery ammunition, the Russian Federation plans to purchase additional equipment from the DPRK in the future. It is known that North Korea has large reserves of BC, but its technical condition is unknown.
Extensive economic sanctions have not yet caused serious damage to the Russian Federation due to the increase in energy prices. And sanctions against oligarchs close to Putin did not undermine his regime. However, things are completely different with the ability of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to replenish their losses. Sanctions have blocked the possibility of buying weapons or electronics for their production.
Moscow hoped that China would be ready to supply the Russian army despite export controls. However, Beijing did not take this step and does not sell weapons or components to the Russian Federation. If the PRC began to supply components, they would fall under US sanctions, which would bring down entire industries by closing access to technology. Therefore, now the Russian Federation is betting on Iran and North Korea.
The revelation that Russia is seeking more artillery munitions is a sign that Moscow’s supply problems are likely deeper than just high-tech components for modern tanks or precision missiles.
