
The Kremlin sent North Korea an advanced air defense system in exchange for thousands of troops fighting Ukrainian forces inside Russia.
Since late last year, Russia has supplied Pyongyang with at least one Pantsir mobile air defense system, electronic warfare systems and other military support, according to an international monitoring report.
The transfer marks a major violation of international sanctions and signals the deepening of Moscow's military alliance with North Korea after signing a strategic partnership treaty last June.
The report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team also found that Pyongyang has supplied more than 20,000 containers of ammunition since September 2023, enabling an increase in attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
The shipments include nine million artillery shells, more than 100 ballistic missiles and over 200 heavy artillery ammunition, as well as anti-tank missiles.
These transfers constitute enough supplies to equip three full brigades, said the report published by South Korea's foreign ministry.
Confirming Western intelligence estimates, the report also says that Pyongyang sent over 11,000 troops to Russia in 2024, of which 3,000 soldiers sent as reinforcements recently.
Foreign troops have so far been limited to fighting on Russian territory and have been considered instrumental in helping Russia expel Kiev's troops from the Kursk border region.