North Korean Public Security Minister Pang Tu Sop, right, meets with Russian Vice Interior Minister Vitaly Shulika at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo)
A damning new report has revealed a deepening military alliance between Russia and North Korea, sparking global concern. The findings suggest this illicit partnership is not only breaching United Nations (UN) sanctions but also fueling Russia’s intensifying missile strikes on Ukraine.
This revelation comes from a 29-page report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. The team includes 11 nations — the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. They united after Russia blocked a UN resolution in March 2024 that aimed to continue sanctions monitoring in North Korea.
Secret Shipments and UN Sanction Breaches
The report outlines an alarming range of illegal arms transfers between the two countries. North Korea has sent Russia artillery, ballistic missiles, and combat vehicles. These were moved by sea, rail, and air — all in violation of UN sanctions.
In return, Russia provided North Korea with air defense systems and large quantities of refined petroleum. These supplies significantly exceeded the annual limits imposed by UN resolutions. The report also points to Russia training North Korean troops who have been deployed to support its war efforts in Ukraine.
Troops, Missiles, and Terrifying Evidence
The monitoring team highlighted that since October 2024, North Korea has sent over 11,000 troops to Russia. This deployment is giving them first-hand combat experience — a disturbing sign of Pyongyang’s growing military ambitions.
Perhaps most alarming are the weapons. An unnamed country within the team claimed that Russian cargo ships transported around 9 million rounds of ammunition from North Korea in 2024. At least 100 ballistic missiles were also reportedly transferred and later fired at Ukrainian cities including Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.
The report includes photographic evidence of North Korean artillery systems and ammunition found in Ukraine. This includes a 170mm self-propelled gun, anti-tank missiles, and multiple rocket launcher rounds — all traced back to North Korea.
Aid for Aggression, Threat to Peace
Western nations now say this military pipeline has enabled Moscow to ramp up missile attacks. These include targeted strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine — an act described as both devastating and deliberate.
At the same time, Pyongyang has benefited significantly. The arms trade has strengthened North Korea’s military capabilities and helped fund its illegal ballistic missile programs.
Despite these findings, Russia’s delegation to the UN has not responded to the report.
A Growing Threat on the Horizon
The report covers activities between January 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. It warns that Russia and North Korea seem committed to deepening this military partnership in the future.
In a joint statement, the 11 monitoring nations pledged to continue tracking UN sanctions violations. They urged North Korea to return to meaningful diplomatic engagement.
Since 2006, the UN has imposed multiple sanctions on North Korea following its nuclear tests. However, recent years have seen enforcement wane. China and Russia have repeatedly blocked new measures, including a U.S.-proposed resolution in 2022.
As this unlawful alliance unfolds, the international community faces renewed pressure to act — before the consequences become even more severe.
