The United Kingdom has shared satellite images with a United Nations expert panel, showing North Korean cargo shipments to Russia. This is an effort to initiate an official investigation into potential arms deals that may be breaking international sanctions.
North Korea has been alleged to have provided the Russian government with ballistic missiles and a large quantity of artillery shells for their involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. This accusation came after a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in Russia’s eastern region in September.
Their bilateral relationship appears to be expanding. Putin met the North Korean foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, in the Kremlin this week during a rare, five-day trip by the senior Pyongyang official. The two discussed “further development of our relations in all areas, including sensitive ones”, according to a Kremlin spokesperson.
A confidential report from the UK defense intelligence, obtained by the Guardian, reveals images taken from September to December depicting three Russian vessels (Maia, Angara, and Maria) loading containers at North Korea’s Najin port before sailing to Russian ports in the far east. The agency was unable to determine the contents of the containers, but this comes after the US claimed that Russia used ballistic missiles from North Korea during recent events in Ukraine.
“Russia’s use of North Korean weapons in Ukraine is a violation of multiple UN security council resolutions,” said a UN diplomat. “It undermines international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and exposes just how desperate Russia has become in its failed invasion. This and other evidence submitted to the UN sanctions committee should trigger a full investigation into Russia and DPRK’s [North Korea’s] flagrant breaking of international sanctions.”
The report, along with additional proof from the United States and other nations, was submitted to the UN committee of specialists on North Korean proliferation. They are anticipated to release their initial conclusive report next month, following a rise in suspected North Korean transport of ammunition to Russia this year.
All of the ships mentioned in the report were subjected to sanctions by the US government in 2022 due to their connections with Oboronlogistika OOO, a shipping company owned by the Russian ministry of defence. This company has been implicated in the illegal annexation of Crimea since 2014, as well as the transportation of military weapons and equipment for the Russian government.
The Royal United Services Institute thinktank’s recent report identified two of the three ships involved in transshipments from North Korea to Russia. The report suggests that Russia may be regularly transporting North Korean weapons. NK News, an independent news website covering North Korea, also identified a third ship as part of a larger group of commercial vessels that have delivered military equipment and munitions from North Korea to Russia multiple times.
The shipments have been credited with facilitating military attacks on Ukraine in December and January that resulted in the deaths of dozens and injuries to hundreds more.
According to prosecutors in Kharkiv, fragments believed to be from Iskander missiles made in North Korea were sent to Kyiv for examination. The missiles showed distinct variations, such as hand-written serial numbers and a dissimilar exhaust cone and welding.
A statement issued by eight members of the security council, including the United Kingdom and United States, declared: “These atrocious assaults were carried out, in part, utilizing ballistic missiles and ballistic missile launchers acquired from [North Korea].”
According to Pranay Vaddi, the White House’s senior director for arms control, the military partnership between Russia and North Korea is unprecedented. Vaddi also cautioned that Russia’s aid to North Korea could weaken the US’s nuclear deterrence strategy in South Korea and Japan.
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He expressed his belief that North Korea’s status as a regional threat may significantly evolve in the next ten years due to this partnership, in a statement to the thinktank, Center for Strategic and International Studies.
During her trip to Russia, Choe had meetings with Putin, the foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, and the deputy prime minister Alexander Novak.
North Korea has indicated that it could be receiving assistance from Russia for its space program.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, a member of the North Korean delegation was photographed before the meeting with Putin holding a document with the title “Observation List in Space Technology Field.”
According to the news agency, the list seemed to feature the Progress Rocket Space Centre and the Voronezh mechanical plant, which are both known for producing engines. However, the writing was not entirely legible.
Previously, Putin made a promise to assist North Korea in constructing satellites. In November, North Korea successfully launched its initial spy satellite. South Korea accused Russia of aiding in the construction of the spy satellite.
Source: theguardian.com
