South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik has raised allegations that North Korea has provided Russia with approximately 7,000 containers of ammunition and military equipment to support its involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The claim was made during a press conference held on Monday, following reports of North Korea's launch of multiple short-range ballistic missiles. The news was reported by the US news agency AP.

According to US and South Korean officials, Pyongyang has allegedly supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and other military equipment, assisting Russia in addressing its ammunition shortages in the Ukrainian warzone. This alleged arms cooperation between North Korea and Russia has reportedly intensified since a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September of the previous year.

In exchange for this military support, North Korea is said to be receiving much-needed food, economic aid, and military assistance from Russia. South Korean officials and private experts have suggested that this exchange is occurring, with North Korea increasingly relying on rail networks to transport weapons to Russia, in contrast to its previous dependence on shipping.

Shin Won-sik emphasized that North Korea has received over 9,000 containers of relief in exchange for millions of artillery shells and other military equipment provided to Russia. Additionally, there are concerns that Russia may also be violating UN Security Council sanctions by supplying fuel to North Korea as part of this alleged exchange.