Budanov: North Korea supplies Russia with shells

13 September, 2023 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a defense plant. August 2023. North Korea.

Photo credits: North Korean media North Korea has been supplying Russia with ammunition for cannon and rocket artillery for a month and a half. The Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, assures that Russia receives 122 mm and 152 mm shells for cannon artillery from North Korea.

Pyongyang also supplies the Russian military with ammunition for a 122 mm multiple launch rocket system. Kirill Budanov told NV magazine that the DPRK has been supplying Russia with weapons for a month and a half. The Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine made his statement amid the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's visit to the Russian Far East and his meeting with Putin.

According to Western media, during this meeting, Moscow wants to negotiate with Pyongyang on receiving ammunition supplies in exchange for technology and oil.

Chief of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov. Photo credits: The New York Times

During his visit to Russia, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un promised "full and unconditional support" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting at the Russian Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East lasted more than four hours.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia and North Korea have "many interesting projects" in areas such as transportation and agriculture. In his turn, former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the meeting between the two dictators, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, is "very significant and goes far beyond a potential arms deal."

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

September 2023. Russia. Photo credits: Russian media

"The meeting and potential arms deal between Kim and Putin "gives North Korea the opportunity in the future to get oil and gas directly from Russia, to get high technology in exchange for these weapons.

I think the big winner here will be Kim Jong-un," John Bolton said.

A representative of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Andrii Yusov, noted that this could also intensify assistance from democratic countries to Ukraine.

Back in August, it became known that the Russian military had been armed with 122mm rockets for MRL, which were manufactured in North Korea.