Seoul says N.Korea might have supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The South Korean military claimed that North Korea might have provided short-range ballistic missiles and portable anti-aircraft missiles to Russia, local media reported on Thursday.

The latest claim by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) came following the US claim that Pyongyang had shipped over 1,000 containers carrying military equipment, and munitions to Moscow.

“Military officials estimated about 2,000 containers of military equipment and munitions were shipped from North Korea's northeastern port of Rajin to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, which is sharply up from 1,000 containers revealed by the White House on Oct. 13, citing satellite imagery taken in September,” Seoul-based Yonhap News reported citing the JCS.

The unnamed official also presumed that North Korea provided artillery shells to Russia to help Moscow in the Ukraine war.

"There have been indications of North Korea's supply of weapons to Russia since mid-2022, and the arms trade via maritime routes increased in August shortly before Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia," the agency quoted a senior official.

Last week, the US, Japan, and South Korea strongly condemned North Korea for allegedly providing military equipment and munitions to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

On Oct. 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Pyongyang and met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

His visit came after Kim made a week-long official trip to Russia in September where he held summit-level talks with President Vladimir Putin.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid