Recent findings by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), consisting of 11 UN member states including the U.S., U.K., South Korea and Japan, show that North Korea has provided Russia with substantial military aid in violation of UN sanctions in Ukraine – this support includes over 14,000 troops, 100 ballistic missiles and millions of artillery and rocket munitions that violate UN sanctions and can be seen being supplied directly by North Korea for their war there. Kyiv Independent | NY Post | WSJ North Korea deployed more than 14,000 soldiers to assist Russian forces, particularly in the contested Kursk region. These troops have participated in trench clearing and artillery firing operations among other operations. North Korea provided Russia with at least 100 ballistic missiles known as Hwasong-11A and Hwasong-11B models, used in attacks against Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia while targeting civilian infrastructure. They can be found on Wikipedia +3 as well as The Kyiv Independent +4, The Guardian and WSJ websites, all as cited above. Additionally, North Korea provided Russia with approximately nine million rounds of artillery and rocket ammunition ranging in calibers between 122mm and 152mm shells, with some ships operating with tracking systems disabled to avoid detection (AP News/WSJ +12 each). Ukrains’ka Pravda reported on this development. Russia has reciprocated this support by providing North Korea with advanced military technology, including the Pantsir mobile air defense system and electronic warfare equipment, and assistance in increasing accuracy of North Korean ballistic missiles. Furthermore, Russia has provided North Korea with refined petroleum products beyond what UN sanctions allow – this was reported by Hani, The New York Post, Wall Street Journal (WSJ), The Guardian (The Guardian +4), Babel News Agency. The MSMT report emphasizes North Korea and Russia’s expanding military ties, emphasizing their mutual benefits from this relationship while raising serious concerns over violations of international sanctions and furthering of conflict in Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent, Hani, New York Post all report these concerns as well. International reactions have been swift. The U.S. State Department condemned North Korean’s actions as violating UN resolutions, while South Korea expressed strong disagreement, labelling its participation a criminal act that threatens regional stability. As the situation escalates, international pressure to address violations against human rights increases significantly and stop further escalation of conflict.
