Following a recent summit between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, train traffic between North Korea and Russia has seen a significant increase. According to a report by Washington-based analysts Beyond Parallel, this surge in activity suggests a “likely” transfer of arms between the two countries.
High-resolution satellite imagery has revealed at least 70 freight cars at North Korea’s border Tumangang Rail Facility. This number is described as “unprecedented” compared to previous years. Over the past five years, no more than 20 cars had been observed at the railyard.
The report concludes that this flurry of activity is indicative of North Korea supplying arms and munitions to Russia. However, tarps covering the shipping containers prevent a conclusive identification of their contents.
These findings align with a recent statement made by an unnamed US official, who claimed that North Korea has begun transferring artillery to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict.
Concerns have been raised among the allies of Kyiv since the face-to-face meeting between Putin and Kim. There is a possibility of a potential arms deal between the two nations.
North Korea is a known producer of conventional weaponry and possesses a large stockpile of Soviet-era war material. However, the condition of this stockpile remains unknown.
While Russia has increased its shell production to an estimated 2.5 million this year, analysts suggest that this may not fulfill its needs on the battlefield. Ukrainian figures suggest that Moscow’s forces are firing approximately 60,000 rounds per day.
Although no official agreements were signed during Kim’s visit, Putin expressed openness to military cooperation.
Both Russia and North Korea are subject to global sanctions, with Moscow facing sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang for its nuclear weapons testing.
The White House has stated that any arms exports from North Korea to Russia would directly violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including those that Russia itself voted to adopt.
