Russia is buying millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for its war in Ukraine, The Associated Press reports.
US intelligence found that Russia is turning to the hermit kingdom as “the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions.”
It’s unclear exactly how much weaponry Russia is buying from North Korea but US officials expect the purchases to continue.
The sales could violate United Nations resolutions against North Korea.
North Korea cozies up:
North Korea has also expressed interest in sending construction workers to help rebuild Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.
It’s ambassador to Moscow recently met with Russian-backed separatist leaders in Ukraine’s Donbas region to discuss cooperation in the “field of labor migration.”
North Korea became the only country outside of Russia and Syria to recognize Russian-held Donetsk and Luhansk as independent territories.
Iran, too:
The Biden administration also said that Russians received Iranian-made drones in August to use in Ukraine.
The White House said last week that Russia has had technical difficulties with the drones in its combat operations in Ukraine.
The administration believes Russia plans to acquire hundreds of Iranian drones to use in the war.
