US Reveals Evidence of Russia-North Korea Arms Deal... "Over 1,000 Containers"

"North Korea Transfers Weapons for Ukraine War to Russia, Satellite Images Reveal Transaction Details"

The U.S. government recently revealed photos showing evidence that North Korea has provided Russia with more than 1,000 containers worth of military equipment and supplies over the past few weeks.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), stated on the 13th (local time) that North Korea delivered more than 1,000 containers worth of military equipment and ammunition to Russia. The NSC released satellite images showing a Russian vessel loading containers in North Korea for transport.
[Photo by NSC]

According to the Associated Press on the 13th (local time), John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), stated in a briefing, "We have obtained information that North Korea has delivered weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine." Kirby added, "In recent weeks, North Korea has supplied Russia with military equipment and ammunition equivalent to over 1,000 containers," and released photos showing Russia transporting the containers.

The NSC released three photos that day. The photos include: ▲ Around September 7-8, approximately 300 20ft standard maritime shipping containers stacked at the North Korean port of Najin ▲ On September 12, the Russian-flagged vessel Angara, carrying about 300 containers, docked at the Russian eastern port of Dunay, alongside another ship loaded with containers destined for North Korea ▲ On October 1, a train carrying containers arrived at an ammunition depot in Tikhoretsk, Russia, showing evidence of North Korea supplying military equipment and ammunition.

Kirby explained, "The Russian vessel loaded containers at North Korea’s Najin port last month and moved them to Dunay in eastern Russia, where the containers were transferred by rail to an ammunition depot in Tikhoretsk, southwestern Russia." He added that the ammunition depot is about 290 km from the Ukrainian border.

However, Kirby did not specify the types of equipment and ammunition North Korea provided to Russia.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), is briefing at the White House in Washington, DC. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Kirby condemned North Korea, saying, "We condemn North Korea for providing weapons to Russia that are used to attack Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian civilians," and pointed out, "We are increasingly concerned about the support Russia may provide to North Korea in return, and we assess that North Korea is seeking military support including fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, other materials, and advanced technology."

He continued, "We are closely monitoring whether Russia will provide such materials to North Korea," adding, "We have already observed Russian vessels unloading containers in North Korea, which may be part of the initial shipments delivered by Russia."

The U.S. has continuously warned about the possibility of transactions between the two countries before and after the North Korea-Russia summit. Experts analyze that by revealing actual transaction evidence through satellite images this time, the U.S. aims to raise international awareness and send a message to deter further transactions between North Korea and Russia.

During his visit to Russia for the North Korea-Russia summit, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un inspected Russian fighter jet production facilities, hypersonic missiles, and strategic bombers. While this led to speculation that North Korea is seeking to acquire weapons technology from Russia, both North Korea and Russia have strongly denied any arms transactions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.