Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un last month (Picture: Reuters)
North Korea has sent Russia a vast arsenal of weapons for use in Ukraine, the White House has said, citing satellite images of a large shipping operation.
Speculation that the two countries may have arranged an arms deal after Kim Jong Un travelled to a remote airfield in Russia to meet Vladimir Putin.
The North Korean leader said he would support his friend’s ‘just fight’, with several observers suggesting this likely meant he would supply military equipment.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said pictures taken by a satellite show this move may have already taken place.
They depict more than 1,000 containers of ‘equipment and munitions’ being carried on a Russian-flagged ship out of North Korea (DPRK), he said.
The containers were then loaded on a train, which transferred them to a depot near Russia’s south-western border, according to Washington’s analysis of the images.
Mr Kirby added: ‘We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians, and further Russia’s illegitimate war.’
In return for the arms, North Korea is seeking its own military support from Russia, including missiles and fighter aircraft, Mr Kirby said.
Washington thinktank the Centre for Strategic and International Studies released images last week showing a ‘dramatic and unprecedented’ increase in freight traffic at North Korea’s Tumangang Rail Facility, near the border.
An ‘unprecedented’ level of activity at the Tumangang Rail Facility could indicate a transfer of arms (Picture: AP)
The US released a map showing what its analysts believe is the route taken by the delivery (Picture: US Government/AFP via Getty Images)
He cited further satellite images showing Russian ships appearing to unload in North Korea that may indicate these deliveries may have already begun.
Kim cast an eye over nuclear-capable bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships used by the Russian military when he toured the Knevichi airfield on his visit last month.
Putin told reporters his country was ‘not going to violate anything’, but would keep developing relations with North Korea.
Following the rare summit, Kim reportedly called for a massive increase in the production of nuclear weapons at North Korean facilities.
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