At a Glance
- North Korea quadruples artillery shell production to support Russia
- Approximately 15,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia, with 4,700 casualties
- Pyongyang receives advanced military technology from Moscow in exchange
- Russia and North Korea solidify alliance with mutual defense pact
Kim’s Arsenal Surge Fuels Russia’s War Effort
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commanded a dramatic ramp-up in artillery shell production, reportedly quadrupling output to support Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
State media highlighted Kim’s push to “strengthen the fighting efficiency” of his forces during inspections at key munitions factories, where modernization efforts have significantly boosted capacity. According to Stars and Stripes, Pyongyang’s factories are setting new records in daily output, aligning closely with Kremlin demands for ammunition replenishment.
Watch ABC News’ report on the incident at “Kim Jong Un expands weapons support for Putin’s war”.
While North Korea claims self-defense motives, experts interpret the scale of this arms support as a calculated move to deepen strategic military ties with Russia. This cooperation appears transactional: Russia is reportedly offering advanced military technologies—including missile, nuclear, and space capabilities—in return for sustained arms and troop contributions.
Hidden Troops and Heavy Losses
In a revelation that shocked intelligence communities, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia, primarily under “industrial cooperation” fronts. Nearly 4,700 of them have been killed, sparking alarm over Pyongyang’s human cost.
Despite the bloodshed, Vladimir Putin recently praised these forces as “Korean heroes who gave their lives,” hailing their sacrifice as essential to Russia’s battlefield resilience. The Kremlin has actively amplified this alliance, with Putin’s rhetoric reinforcing mutual loyalty between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Dangerous Gains and Global Blowback
While many regimes might be destabilized by wartime casualties and economic strain, North Korea remains defiant. The regime shows no signs of scaling back, even amid widespread food shortages. Analysts say Kim is wagering that Russia’s desperation will deliver critical technological windfalls.
U.S. Army Gen. Xavier Brunson recently warned that “Russia is expanding the sharing of space, nuclear, and missile-applicable technology” to Pyongyang. Such transfers raise the specter of North Korea advancing its long-range missile and nuclear programs at an alarming pace.
These developments threaten to redraw global security boundaries. Pyongyang’s enhanced arsenal and growing battlefield presence may soon demand inclusion in high-level war negotiations—an outcome that would upend decades of deterrence-based diplomacy.
