The Russian Ministry of Defence is buying millions of rockets and artillery from North Korea to bolster its invasion of Ukraine, according to a recently downgraded US intelligence discovery, reported the Guardian.
An anonymous US official said on Monday that Russia turning to North Korea shows that "the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions."
US intelligence services believe that Russia will also seek to buy more military equipment from North Korea in the future, reports The New York Times.
The discovery comes after the White House recently confirmed that the Russian military in August received Iranian-manufactured drones to use on the frontlines in Ukraine.
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The White House said last week that Russian forces have suffered various technical issues with their Mohajer-6 and Shahed drones. These arms were likely bought as part of a Russian plan to get hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Iran.
North Korea has continued its close ties with Russia, accusing the US of being responsible for the crisis in Ukraine and claimed that the West's "hegemonic policy" validate Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
Separately, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia is facing supply shortages of UAVs due to international sanctions, which were hampering its commanders' efforts to identify targets with its artillery.
North Korea a key Russian ally
North Korea has hinted that they might be interested in sending construction workers to aid Russia with rebuilding the destroyed areas under Russian occupation in eastern Ukraine.
North Korea's ambassador in Moscow recently met delegates from two separatist territories in the Donbas region of Ukraine and showed optimism about working together in "the field of labour migration", stressing that his country was easing pandemic border control.
Russia's main effort now remains its Donbas operation. According to the British MoD, he political goal of securing the Donbas region is to gain the entire Donetsk Oblast, which would allow the Kremlin to claim 'liberation' of the Donbas. Russia has likely missed several deadlines to achieve this goal, the MoD wrote.
But despite a clear victory in the Donbas region, North Korea in July became the only country apart from Russia and Syria to recognise the self-styled republics in Luhansk and Donetsk, joining sides with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
