70% of ammunition used by Russia in war made in N. Korea: Ukraine analysis
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Apartment buildings damaged by a Russian military strike in Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Nov 1.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV - About 70 per cent of ammunition currently used by Russia in its war against Ukraine has been made in North Korea, according to an analysis by the Ukrainian authorities, which have created classified documents on Moscow’s military supplies.
Pyongyang has provided some 6.5 million shells to Russia since the start of Moscow’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, in exchange for Russian military technology to manufacture its weapons, the papers made available to Kyodo News showed.
The documents, which shed light on how Russia procures military supplies from North Korea, China and Iran, said Pyongyang has received Russia’s technologies related to air defence systems and space development as well as US$20 billion (S$26 billion) in aid.
The papers compiled around September also suggested Russian nuclear technologies have been transferred to North Korea. The findings underscore the deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea
Moscow has also obtained electronic components made in Japan, the United States and Europe that are necessary to produce tanks and missiles via China, which opposes Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, according to the documents.
About 90 per cent of electronic parts such as semiconductors distributed to the Russian defence industry are estimated to have come from China.
In return, Moscow provided China with energy including oil, rare metals needed for the production of aircraft and submarines and dual-use items for civilian and military purposes.
Iran has provided some 2,200 drones and technology to manufacture explosives to Russia, which has transferred an air defence system and radars to the Middle East country, according to the documents.
A Ukraine defence official pointed out the logistics network involving North Korea, China and Iran supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and prolongs the war, stressing the need to isolate Moscow through Western sanctions. KYODO NEWS
