Half of the artillery shells used by Russia in the war come from North Korea, reports The Times, which has obtained the information. Three million shells are to be transported annually from Pyongyang to Moscow, although many of the shells are defective.
To maintain Russian successes in Ukraine, most recently in the city of Vuhledar, the North Korean shells have played a crucial role, writes the newspaper.
As Russian weapons and ammunition stocks dwindle, North Korea has emerged as an important supplier to the country. In August, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that North Korea had sent containers with up to six million artillery shells, likely to Russia.
At the same time, Kyiv Post reports that six North Korean officers were killed in a Ukrainian robot attack in Russian-occupied area near Donetsk on Thursday. The North Koreans are said to have been on site to receive a demonstration of the Russian defense.
Earlier this summer, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea and signed a partnership agreement with the country's dictator Kim Jong-Un.
