Seoul: Russia has been supplying North Korea with military equipment, including the Pantsir air defense system and electronic warfare jammers, since late last year, according to an international monitoring report released by Seoul's foreign ministry. This assistance is in direct violation of U.N. sanctions, highlighting the strengthening ties between the two nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) indicated that Moscow has transferred at least one Pantsir mobile air defense system and one Pantsir-class combat vehicle to Pyongyang since November 2024. This inaugural report by the MSMT, established by South Korea and the United States following the disbandment of the U.N. Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions monitoring, reveals significant military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The MSMT includes participation from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, and New Zealand.
The report draws on intelligence from participating countries and private research institutes. It suggests North Korea has supplied Russia with over 20,000 containers of military supplies since September 2023, including millions of artillery rounds, ballistic missiles, and heavy artillery pieces. Russian transport aircraft facilitated these transfers in late 2023, violating U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions against Pyongyang, which Russia had previously supported as a permanent UNSC member.
Additionally, the report notes that over 11,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia in 2024, with 3,000 more recently dispatched. These soldiers were trained by Russian forces in various military operations. High-level exchanges between the countries' military officials and the signing of a bilateral defense treaty last year further underscore their deepening relationship.
Furthermore, Russia has supplied North Korea with more than 1 million barrels of fuel, exceeding the UNSC's sanctioned cap. Thousands of North Korean workers have also been employed in Russia, contravening sanctions against overseas employment. Financial transactions between the two countries are conducted through ruble-denominated bank accounts in South Ossetia, a Russia-backed region in Georgia.
The report, described as an effort to fill the monitoring gap left by the disbandment of the U.N. panel, emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and enforcement of U.N. Security Council resolutions. A joint statement from the foreign ministry reiterated the commitment to uphold these measures and monitor their implementation.