Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC of Ukraine: the DPRK military is monitoring the transferred ammunition in Donbas

North Korean troops in the Donetsk region work with the ammunition transferred to Russia. Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the NSDC of Ukraine, reported that DPRK engineers are recording defects in ammunition and monitoring its use by Russian troops. "The presence of the DPRK military in the Donetsk region is mainly related to small numbers of engineer troops and is due to the fact that a large amount of ammunition from the DPRK is of poor quality," he explained.

According to Kovalenko, these soldiers accompany the cargo, record defects, and monitor the Russian military's use of ammunition. "Russia is increasingly dependent on DPRK ammunition for various types of weapons. Also, the KN23 ballistic missile is of poor quality," the military stated.

Andrii Kovalenko.

Photo credits: sud.ua

Back in June, it was reported that the DPRK had shipped at least 10,000 shipping containers to Russia that could contain almost 5 million artillery shells. In addition, the Russian armed forces received dozens of North Korean ballistic missiles. North Korea's military aid to Russia has already caused significant damage to Ukraine on the battlefield.

In response to the massive supply of artillery shells to Russia, the DPRK has the opportunity to acquire new technologies, primarily in the development of missile systems and satellites, as well as potentially supplying tanks and aircraft.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-un at a defense plant. August 2023, North Korea. Photo credits: North Korean media.

This increasingly close cooperation has become a worrying sign for the United States and its allies.

Previously, North Korea adapted the Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead to install short-range ballistic missiles and MLRS.

South Korea considers its northern neighbor's build-up of tactical nuclear weapons as a greater threat than the emergence of strategic nuclear weapons.