Fact Check: "North Korea has provided Russia with over 9 million rounds of artillery."
What We Know
Recent reports confirm that North Korea has indeed supplied Russia with a substantial quantity of military munitions. According to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), North Korea provided over 9 million rounds of artillery and more than 100 ballistic missiles to Russia in 2024. This transfer included various calibers of artillery shells, such as 122mm and 152mm, and was part of a broader military cooperation that violates UN sanctions (source-2, source-4). The shipments were reportedly made in 49 separate deliveries from January to mid-December 2024 (source-4).
Analysis
The claim that North Korea has provided Russia with over 9 million rounds of artillery is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The MSMT report, which includes contributions from South Korea, the US, and Japan, is particularly noteworthy as it focuses on monitoring sanctions violations and provides detailed accounts of military exchanges between the two nations (source-2).
The reliability of this report is enhanced by the fact that it is a collaborative effort involving multiple countries that have a vested interest in monitoring North Korea's military activities. Furthermore, the report details not only the quantity of munitions supplied but also the types of military hardware exchanged, such as the Pantsir mobile air defense system provided by Russia to North Korea in return for these munitions (source-4).
Contradictory claims or skepticism about the numbers often arise from political biases or a lack of access to verified intelligence. However, the consistency across various reports from reputable news outlets and the MSMT lends significant weight to the assertion that North Korea has indeed supplied Russia with over 9 million rounds of artillery.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that North Korea has provided Russia with over 9 million rounds of artillery is supported by credible reports and detailed accounts from the MSMT. The evidence shows a clear pattern of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which includes significant transfers of munitions that violate international sanctions.
Sources
- North Korea supplied Russia with 9 mn rounds of ammunition and 100 ballistic missiles since 2023
- After N. Korea sent 9M shells to Russia, Moscow provided it with a ...
- 100 missiles, 9 million shells, and more: UN reveals massive North ...
- North Korea supplied Russia with 9 million shells and 100 ballistic ...
