The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) made this accusation before lawmaker Yoo Sang-beom, a member of the country's unicameral parliament. Yoo then relayed this information during a closed-door briefing with intelligence officials.
According to the lawmaker representing one of the eight districts of the Gangwon constituency, the NIS believes Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with more than one million artillery shells since August. This amount is sufficient for at least two months' worth of supplies for the Russian Armed Forces. Yoo added that North Korea, formally the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been delivering these artillery shells by ship and other means of transport to help fuel its war against Ukraine.
The NIS also suspects that the DPRK has been running its munitions factories at full capacity and mobilizing residents to increase production and meet Moscow's demands. In October, Pyongyang dispatched weapons experts to Russia in October to offer guidance on the use of the transferred weaponry. (Related: Russia significantly increases production of tanks and munitions despite Western sanctions aimed at undermining the country’s military industry.)
Because of the favor that Pyongyang is doing for Russia, Seoul suspects that it might get advanced technological equipment from Russia to make its nuclear weapons and missiles more dangerous. But if not, the North could still get regular military assistance, like improving its old fighter jets.
It is also likely that the DPRK is receiving Russian technological assistance as it pushes ahead with plans to launch its first military reconnaissance satellite after consecutive launch failures in recent months. The NIS believes that the North is in the final phase of preparations for the third launch, which is more likely to be successful, Yoo said.
"While the October launch date for North Korea's satellite program has been postponed, final preparations, such as inspections of the engine and launch device, are in full swing." Yoo concluded, "It appears that North Korea received technical advice from Russia, so we are expecting a higher rate of success in its space program, rocket launches and satellites."
Seoul and its allies condemn Pyongyang-Moscow weapons transfer deal
South Korea, together with its allies Japan and the U.S., vehemently condemned North Korea for supplying munitions and other military equipment to Russia in an Oct. 26 statement.
"We will continue to work together with the international community to expose Russia's attempts to acquire military equipment from North Korea," the joint statement by South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa declared. "Such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia's war of aggression."
According to Lim Soosuk, spokesperson of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement was issued after North Korea and Russia still pushed through with the weapons transfer agreement – despite repeated warnings from the international community.
"We are deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear- or ballistic missile-related technology to North Korea," the statement added.
Furthermore, the statement noted that arms transfers to and from North Korea would violate UN Security Council resolutions. Russia, a permanent member of the council, had previously voted in favor of such resolutions.
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