“North Korea, is helping Russia”

AP/SEOUL, South Korea In addition to the highly publicized shipments of ammunition and shells, North Korea is believed to have provided Russia with other types of missiles to aid in its conflict in Ukraine, the South Korean military stated on Thursday.

North Korea is suspected of transferring rifles, rocket launchers, mortars, shells, and an undefined quantity of short-range ballistic missiles, anti-tank missiles, and portable anti-air missiles to Russia, according to information provided by the South Korean military.

According to a lawmaker in attendance, South Korea's intelligence agency stated in a briefing on Wednesday that Russia is assisting North Korea with the last stages of preparations for the launch of a spy satellite and that the likelihood of its third attempt succeeding is high.

According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korea has also shipped more than ten consignments of weapons, including more than a million artillery rounds, to Russia for use in the conflict with Ukraine.

That is approximately how much armament Russia will use in its two-month war with Ukraine, according to a parliament committee member Yoo Sang-bum, who cited the briefing.

The report was presented by the NIS in a parliament intelligence committee meeting behind closed doors.

As the United States had previously reported, the shipments were made by air out of North Korea and by vessels traveling between a port on the country's east coast and ports in Russia, according to the spy agency.

Citing the NIS report, Yoo told reporters that North Korea is "running its munitions factories to full capacity to meet demand for military supplies to Russia and even mobilizing residents and civilian factories to make ammunition boxes for exports."

This year, North Korea attempted to launch its first reconnaissance satellite twice, but both times failed due to malfunctions in the booster stages.

The launch is a component of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's effort to improve his country's military prowess, which also includes the use of hypersonic, long-range, and ballistic missile submarines.

Yoo quoted NIS as saying that "North Korea looks to have received technical assistance from Russia and is likely checking the launch vehicle's engine and launch mechanism," though it added that "security reasons prevent NIS from providing further details."

Though it had previously promised to try again in October, the North has not yet given any signs that it was ready to launch.

In September, Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the far east of the country, where he gave a tour of the country's state-of-the-art space launch facility, stoking rumors that Moscow would support Kim's space program in exchange for the supply of conventional weapons.

According to Yoo, North Korea still lacks the financial means and technical know-how to continue with its satellite program and doesn't seem to have perfected the technology for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) warheads to reenter the atmosphere.

Japan, South Korea, and the US have all denounced North Korea's transfer of weaponry and other military hardware to Russia, citing what they claimed to be proof of the shipments.

South Korea announced on Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the country on November 8–9 to meet with Foreign Minister Park Jin and talk about issues pertaining to North Korea.

Yoo quoted NIS as saying that North Korea is attempting to import Russian fighter jets and other aircraft in exchange for Moscow's arms support.In addition to rejecting claims made by some military analysts that its weapons were being used by Hamas militants in their conflict with Israel, North Korea has denied giving arms to Russia.

Additionally, the spy agency reported that in mid-October, North Korea sent a delegation to Russia that was primarily composed of artillery experts. Says Yoo

After the briefing, Yoo stated, "It is also apparent that North Korea is attempting to employ the Israel-Hamas conflict in a variety of ways." "Indications of Kim Jong Un's order to look for ways to comprehensively support the Palestinians have been obtained," he stated.

The agency also stated that over 80% of cyberattacks against South Korea are the result of North Korea and China. According to the report, the FBI and NIS have frozen assets worth $3.45 million that North Korea had stolen through hacking.

Thanks for reading, by John Port.