In an exclusive revelation, the United Kingdom has shared satellite photographs with a panel of UN experts, aiming to prompt an official investigation into potential arms deals violating international sanctions. The images reportedly show Russian ships loading cargo at North Korea’s Najin port, fueling accusations that Pyongyang is supplying ballistic missiles and artillery shells to Russia for its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
The allegations gained traction after a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in Russia’s far east in September. The bilateral ties between the two nations seem to be deepening, evident in a recent meeting between Putin and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in the Kremlin. Discussions during this rare five-day trip covered various aspects of their relationship, including sensitive ones, as stated by a Kremlin spokesperson.
An unreleased UK defense intelligence report reveals satellite imagery captured between September and December of Russian ships—Maia, Angara, and Maria—loading containers at North Korea’s Najin port before heading to Russian ports in the far east. While the content of the containers remains unidentified, the report follows a recent US announcement claiming the use of North Korean ballistic missiles by Russia in Ukraine.
A UN diplomat asserted, “Russia’s use of North Korean weapons in Ukraine is a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,” emphasizing the need for a comprehensive investigation into Russia and North Korea’s blatant disregard for international sanctions.
The report, along with evidence from the United States and other countries, has been submitted to the UN panel of experts on North Korean proliferation. The panel is expected to release its first final report next month, coinciding with the surge in suspected North Korean arms shipments to Russia.
All three ships mentioned in the report faced US sanctions in 2022 due to their connections with the Russian Ministry of Defence’s shipping company, Oboronlogistika OOO. This company has been implicated in Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea since 2014, and it collaborates with private Russian maritime shipping firms transporting weapons for the Russian government.
The Royal United Services Institute and NK News have also identified these ships, pointing to an escalation in transshipments from North Korea to Russia, potentially involving significant quantities of munitions.
The deliveries are believed to have facilitated military strikes against Ukraine, resulting in casualties. Prosecutors in Kharkiv reported suspected fragments of North Korean-made Iskander missiles, which were analyzed for subtle differences, such as hand-drawn lettering and unique nozzle exhaust cone and welding.
An official statement from eight members of the Security Council, including the UK and US, condemned the attacks in Ukraine, linking them to ballistic missiles procured from North Korea.
The White House’s senior director for arms control, Pranay Vaddi, expressed concern over the unprecedented military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, warning of potential consequences for the US nuclear deterrence policy in South Korea and Japan.
Choe’s visit to Russia also hinted at potential Russian assistance for North Korea’s space program. A photograph of a North Korean delegation member holding a document titled “Observation List in Space Technology Field” raised speculations about collaboration in the space domain.
nkf.
