The United States, along with 10 of its allies, have accused North Korea and Russia of breaking important United Nations (UN) sanctions through secret military cooperation. These sanctions are international rules designed to stop countries from trading or helping each other with military equipment and weapons when it threatens global peace.
The accusation came from a new report released by a group called the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. This team includes countries like the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. They work together to watch over and check if North Korea is following the UN sanctions.
The report says North Korea and Russia have been helping each other in ways that are clearly banned by the UN. North Korea has sent Russia weapons and military equipment by ship, plane, and train. This includes artillery (big guns), ballistic missiles (long-range rockets), and combat vehicles (military trucks and tanks). These weapons have been used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
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What North Korea and Russia Have Been Doing Together
The report reveals that Russia has not only received weapons from North Korea but has also sent air defense systems to North Korea. Moreover, Russian soldiers have trained North Korean troops, some of whom are now fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine. This kind of military teamwork between the two countries breaks UN rules that are meant to stop the spread of weapons and military help.
Besides weapons, Russia has also supplied North Korea with large amounts of refined petroleum products (a type of fuel). This supply goes beyond the limits set by UN sanctions. The two countries have also kept banking connections, which are banned under the sanctions. These activities help North Korea fund its own military and missile programs, which are also prohibited by the UN.
The report states that because of this cooperation, Russia has been able to increase missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, targeting important civilian areas like Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. The missiles destroy buildings and infrastructure, hurting people who live there.
North Korea has sent over 11,000 troops to Russia since October 2024 to gain real combat experience by fighting in the war. This training is valuable for North Korea’s military development but is against international rules.
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Evidence and Details From the Report
The report, covering the period from January 2024 to April 2025, includes strong evidence of this illegal cooperation. It says Russian cargo ships delivered as many as 9 million rounds of ammunition from North Korea to Russia in 2024. These rounds are used for artillery and rocket launchers.
There are pictures in the report showing containers that came from North Korean and Russian ports, and images of ammunition storage areas in Russia. It also mentions North Korea transferring at least 100 ballistic missiles to Russia, which Russia has launched into Ukraine to destroy civilian buildings and terrorize people in cities.
The report even includes photos of North Korean weapons moving through Russia and weapons found in Ukraine that are clearly from North Korea. Some of these are large guns, rocket launcher ammunition, and anti-tank missiles.
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The countries in the monitoring team stated that they will keep watching how the UN sanctions are followed and will continue to raise awareness about any attempts to break or avoid these sanctions. They also urged North Korea to take part in meaningful talks to resolve the situation.
