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Missiles, troops, and millions of rounds: How deep is North Korea into Russia's war in Ukraine?
North Korea has become one of Russia's most crucial wartime allies, supplying missiles, troops and millions of artillery rounds to support its war in Ukraine. A new multilateral report exposes the full scale of Pyongyang's military support to Moscow, and how this arms pipeline is shaping the battlefield read more
Over the past two years, North Korea has significantly deepened its military cooperation with Russia, supplying a wide array of troops, munitions, missiles and equipment to bolster Moscow's ongoing war against Ukraine.
A detailed and alarming report released by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) — a coalition of eleven UN member states — lays bare the scope and mechanics of these transfers, arguing that they constitute a direct violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
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The MSMT, formed in response to the disbandment of a previous UN panel overseeing sanctions on Pyongyang, has published what is is being touted as the most comprehensive analysis yet of the North Korea–Russia arms collaboration.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
Drawing on open-source intelligence and field investigations by organisations like the Open Source Centre (OSC) and Conflict Armament Research (CAR), the report, accessed by Firstpost outlines a systematic military supply chain funnelling support from Pyongyang to Moscow.
From North Korea with love… and missiles
According to MSMT participating states in the report, North Korea delivered at least 100 ballistic missiles to Russia between January and December 2024. These weapons were later used to attack urban centres and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including cities like Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
The report noted, 'These forms of unlawful cooperation between (North Korea) and Russia contributed to Moscow's ability to increase its missile attacks against Ukrainian cities including targeted strikes against critical civilian infrastructure.'
The arsenal sent from North Korea included an assortment of 82mm, 122mm, 130mm, 152mm and 170mm munitions, designed for compatibility with a variety of artillery systems in Russia's inventory such as the D-20 and D-30 howitzers, the M-30 and M-46 guns, and the D-74 cannon.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
The report specified that over 20,000 containers of such ammunition and related materiel were transferred since September 2023.
One MSMT state estimated that in 2024 alone, up to 9 million rounds of artillery and multiple rocket launcher ammunition were delivered aboard Russian-flagged cargo vessels.
Between August 2023 and March 2025, open-source estimates place that figure at 4.2 to 5.8 million rounds of 122mm and 152mm munitions, showing the sustained scale of deliveries.
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Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via Conflict Armament Research (CAR)
In terms of heavy equipment, North Korea shipped three brigade sets of artillery systems, which included 170mm long-range self-propelled guns, 240mm multiple rocket launchers, reload vehicles, and over 200 military vehicles.
Among the more advanced systems sent were Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles and RPG-type anti-tank rockets. Following the recovery of these weapons from battlefields in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence confirmed their North Korean origin.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
One particularly significant incident occurred in January 2024, when UN experts traced a missile strike on Kharkiv back to a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, confirming a violation of the longstanding UN arms embargo on North Korea.
How North Korean troops are fighting for Russia against Ukraine
According to the MSMT, more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to eastern Russia in late 2024. These troops were subsequently relocated to the Kursk Oblast, where they were involved in direct combat operations alongside Russian forces.
These North Korean units were trained in key military tactics by Russian forces, including drone warfare, artillery operations and trench-clearing techniques — skills critical to contemporary battlefield conditions.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
Between January and March 2025, another 3,000 soldiers were sent from North Korea to Russia.
Both Russia and North Korea acknowledged the presence of these troops for the first time in April 2025.
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Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that North Korean soldiers had participated in operations aimed at reclaiming Russian territory following a Ukrainian advance into the Kursk region. North Korean officials also confirmed their involvement.
Though these troops had been in Russia since at least November 2024, Ukrainian intelligence reported that many were pulled from the frontlines in January 2025 after experiencing significant casualties.
The logistics behind the North Korea-Russia arms trade
Transportation of arms and personnel has been carried out through a combination of maritime, rail and air routes. Initially, arms transfers were conducted primarily by rail.
However, to meet growing demand, Russia transitioned to using maritime shipping as the dominant mode of transport. A total of 49 shipments of artillery and rocket ammunition were recorded from January to mid-December 2024.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
Sensitive items such as missiles, missile launch vehicles (TELs) and electronic warfare systems were primarily transported via Russian military cargo aircraft.
Aircraft identified in these transfers include the Ilyushin Il-76MD and Antonov AN-124, operated by the Russian Command of Military Transport Aviation (VTA) and Joint Stock Company the 224th Flight Unit State Airlines.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
In a strategic technological exchange, Russia is reported to have provided North Korea with air defence systems, including short-range weapons, advanced jamming equipment and at least one Pantsir-class combat vehicle.
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The Pantsir system significantly enhances North Korea's defence capabilities by providing protection against a variety of aerial threats.
Russia has also shared operational data on missile performance, which has helped North Korea fine-tune the guidance systems of its ballistic missiles.
Image Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report via an MSMT participating state
The MSMT report highlights that such information exchange enables Pyongyang to 'fund its military programmes and further develop its ballistic missiles programmes, which are themselves prohibited under multiple (UN Security Council resolutions), and gain first-hand experience in modern warfare.'
Kim's 'gifts' to Putin
North Korea's support for Russia hasn't been limited to military hardware and troops. In 2024, Pyongyang requested 8,000 labour visas for its workers, intending to send them to Russia for construction and forestry work.
Between December 2024 and February 2025, 481 North Korean labourers were reportedly dispatched — 198 for the construction sector and 283 for textile jobs.
Further plans include the deployment of IT professionals and medical staff from North Korea to Russia, marking a broader economic integration effort between the two nations despite international sanctions.
The report also outlines how Russia and North Korea have engaged in financial transactions designed to bypass UN restrictions. The two countries have been operating ruble-denominated accounts through sanctioned North Korean banks — the Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) and the Korea Kwangson Banking Corporation (KKBC) — via MRB Bank in the South Ossetia region of Georgia.
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This financial collaboration violates Paragraph 33 of UN Security Council Resolution 2270 (2016), which bans financial institutions from maintaining relationships with North Korean banks unless approved by the Committee.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also mandates such measures under its recommendations aimed at curbing proliferation financing.
What MSMT nations are saying
In response to the findings, the MSMT's member nations — Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States — issued a joint statement calling on North Korea to 'engage in meaningful diplomacy.'
Meanwhile, concerns persist in the West about the growing depth of the Moscow-Pyongyang alliance. There are increasing fears that Russia may soon provide space and satellite technology to North Korea in return for sustained military support.
Despite the denials from both Russia and North Korea regarding weapons transfers, their public commitment under a new bilateral defence pact to provide immediate military assistance in the event of an attack put their renewed level of trust and interdependence in the spotlight.
While many of the materials and troops detailed in the MSMT report have already seen action in Ukraine, the report makes clear that this military cooperation is ongoing and likely to continue.
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Business Standard
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North Korea gaining military edge as Russia seeks war-time supplies
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According to South Korean officials and analysts quoted in the NYT report, this deal has provided North Korea with fuel, food, military materials and technologies to upgrade its forces. They warn that this growing military cooperation could destabilise the Korean Peninsula. New weapons, new opportunities Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and North Korea's economy, the country focused on nuclear weapons while its conventional military remained outdated. In contrast, South Korea, backed by the US and its 28,500 troops, maintained a strong military edge. However, analysts say Russia's need for weapons and manpower has brought about a major shift. North Korea's weapons industry has been revitalised, with Kim now gaining battlefield insights and modern warfare experience. 'North Korea appears to be entering a strategic golden age,' Yang Uk, Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told NYT. Support for Russia in Ukraine Russia has also benefited. Though kept secret at first, Russian military officials later confirmed that North Korean troops helped Russian forces push back Ukrainians in the Kursk region. South Korean intelligence believes around 15,000 North Korean troops have entered Russia. North Korea has supplied millions of artillery shells and missiles. The two countries are also working together to develop drones. The cooperation has strengthened Vladimir Putin's position in both the Ukraine conflict and international diplomacy. In September 2023, Kim visited Russia's Far East, where he toured a space launch centre, aircraft factory, and military bases. South Korean analysts believe he made a 'bucket list' of technologies he wanted. The relationship deepened when Kim invited Putin to Pyongyang last June. Soon after, North Korean troops reportedly began flowing into Russia. Testing troops in real battles Dmitri Kuznets, an analyst with Meduza, said North Korean troops helped retake two villages in the Kursk region. However, the exact scale of their involvement remains debated, according to him. Valery Shiryaev, a Russian military analyst, wrote on Telegram that real battlefield experience was important for Kim. 'All of them are getting an incredible experience now and will come back as real veterans,' he said. 'There are no such people in the South Korean Army, which undoubtedly fills Kim Jong-un with pride.' Analysts have observed aircraft and ships carrying military technology from Russia to North Korea. Kim has increased visits to weapons factories and overseen several weapons tests. In March, he watched the launch of an anti-aircraft missile system, suggesting Russian help in updating the North's air defences. He also viewed AI-powered attack drones. Experts say that just improving drone capabilities would help reduce the conventional weapons gap with South Korea. New naval power In April, Kim and his daughter Kim Ju-ae attended the launch of North Korea's first naval destroyer, the "Choe Hyon". He later observed its missile tests. One of the missiles resembled Russia's nuclear-capable 3M22 Zircon cruise missile. Kim also confirmed that a nuclear-powered submarine was being developed. In early May, Kim visited a tank factory and announced that outdated armoured vehicles were being replaced. He later praised a fourfold increase in artillery shell production — an important export to Russia. He also observed a MiG-29 fighter jet firing an air-to-air missile, a stark contrast from the days when the North could barely fly due to fuel and spare part shortages. According to Lee Sung-joon, a South Korean military spokesperson, many of North Korea's new weapons indicate direct Russian assistance. Evading sanctions through Russia The UN has banned arms trade with North Korea. However, cooperation with Russia has helped Pyongyang bypass sanctions and get the technology it needs, according to a report from the Institute for National Security Strategy. Nevertheless, there is doubt over how much sensitive technology Russia is willing to share. North Korea has repeatedly failed to launch military satellites. A nuclear-powered submarine would require a compact reactor — something Moscow may hesitate to provide. 'It's the most dangerous weapon North Korea has unveiled so far,' said Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification. Even if Russia never gives that final piece of technology, the possibility alone gives Kim more leverage. North Korean state media has already shown part of what it claimed was a nuclear submarine under construction.
Time of India
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Live Events 'Ivy League colleges cannot survive without international students. They are the backbone of America's academic strength. This situation is temporary... it will pass.'I've been saying this often these days, more to calm the nerves of students and their parents than anything over two decades, I've watched thousands of Indian students chase the American Dream—an Ivy League degree, a high-flying job in the US and a life of global success. I've walked this journey with them—from the nervous excitement of SAT prep to nail-biting decisions on for the first time in my career, I find myself in the eye of an entirely new storm: the growing uncertainty in US college admissions for international students. And yet, I remain calm. Because I know the system is cyclical rather than permanent.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)Much of the current anxiety stems from the ongoing legal battles involving universities like Harvard. After the Donald Trump administration barred the University of Harvard from enrolling foreign students, a recent court ruling has allowed it to enrol international students, but many logistical roadblocks 20% of Indian students who have got admission to American colleges and universities this year have already got their visa. About 30% have secured interview dates. The remaining 50% are stuck—waiting for I-20 forms, which are eligibility certificates issued by a college or a university that is necessary to apply for a student visa, or struggling to find open visa slots. No new interview appointments are being issued right we are in June. The August intake is looming large and, understandably, parents are advice is simple: stay calm and have a pragmatic Plan B. Many families are now exploring alternatives like the UK and Singapore, or even returning to top Indian most students still want to hold out hope. They know—as I do—that there's still nothing quite like a US undergraduate this climate, I see three types of students:They're willing to lose a semester or even defer a year, just to make it to their dream US students are seriously weighing options in the UK, Singapore and even top Indian are watching and waiting, believing that visa processes will be realigned in there's reason to believe they will. The pressure on the US government to resolve this is mounting—economically, politically and other battle is just getting into an American college. With Common Application, AI-assisted evaluations and higher global applications, US colleges have never been more selective. Consider this: the University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate dropped from 20% in 2005 to just 5.4% in 2024. Boston University's went from 52% to 10.7%. New York University's fell from 32% to a mere 8%.More than 80% of Indian undergraduate applicants to the US are disappointed with the outcomes. Many of them feel they deserve better. But they are up against a system where nearly 35% of seats are locked up by MALDC candidates—Minorities, Athletes, Legacies, Donors and Children of Faculty and competition is only intensifying. The pipeline of Indian applicants is growing rapidly. Students from second- and third-tier towns now outperform their metro-city peers, fuelled by better schools and greater has been a huge jump in high-quality institutions across India. IT diploma schools have grown from 80 in 2010 to 175+ today. A-Level schools have doubled from 100 to 200+ in the same US still offers world-class education, but the post-graduation road is no longer guaranteed. A four-year undergraduate degree now costs upwards of $400,000, while an MBA degree can cost $250,000 or only 40% of Indian students who are graduating this year have secured jobs so far. Even in high-demand fields like computer science, the number was lower than expected. Ivy League MBAs are not immune either—23% of Harvard MBA graduates were unemployed three months after graduation in 2024. At Stanford , that figure was 18%, nearly double from just two years visa uncertainty continues. Optional practical training ( OPT ) and H-1B rules for visas remain inconsistent. Standardised testing, like the SAT, is making a comeback—adding yet another layer of the stakes rise, I encourage students to redefine what success looks like. Elite institutions are fantastic platforms but they are not the only route to achievement.I often recommend Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni. It's a wake-up call for those obsessed with the end of the day, real success depends on character, curiosity and grit—not just a brand of my students are exploring Indian post-grad options like the IIMs. Indian companies increasingly value homegrown talent—those who understand the market and are hungry to build something isn't the new normal. It's a moment in flux. My message to students and parents is: stay flexible, stay informed and keep your eye on the long game. Be prepared to pivot. Don't tie your self-worth to a college name or a country's immigration path ahead demands resilience—the ability to adapt, to reinvent oneself, to embrace uncertainty. We are entering an era where resilience will matter more than résumés. That's what I tell my students when they call, worried, sometimes in tears. I remind them that uncertainty doesn't equal failure—it's just part of recent months, I have also found myself having deeper, more philosophical conversations with families which I never used to have 10 or 15 years ago. Parents are beginning to ask not just how to get in, but why they are pursuing this path in the first place. And students are more reflective. They care more about alignment—between their passions, purpose and the education they seek. It's no longer just about getting a US degree. It's about building a life that feels role is no longer just about helping them get into a college—it's about helping them think bigger, with confidence, no matter where they land. After all, the dream isn't changing. It's just getting path may no longer be straight. But for those willing to stay the course, it can still lead to something Ivy League dream is still alive—but maybe, just maybe, it's time to dream wider.(As told to Lijee Philip)
Economic Times
an hour ago
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Ivy League dreams in limbo: Visas, verdicts & very anxious students
Bloomberg Harvard University students wearing graduation gowns walk through Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29 'Ivy League colleges cannot survive without international students. They are the backbone of America's academic strength. This situation is temporary... it will pass.' I've been saying this often these days, more to calm the nerves of students and their parents than anything else. For over two decades, I've watched thousands of Indian students chase the American Dream—an Ivy League degree, a high-flying job in the US and a life of global success. I've walked this journey with them—from the nervous excitement of SAT prep to nail-biting decisions on colleges. Now, for the first time in my career, I find myself in the eye of an entirely new storm: the growing uncertainty in US college admissions for international students. And yet, I remain calm. Because I know the system is cyclical rather than permanent. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Harvard's Legal Battle Much of the current anxiety stems from the ongoing legal battles involving universities like Harvard. After the Donald Trump administration barred the University of Harvard from enrolling foreign students, a recent court ruling has allowed it to enrol international students, but many logistical roadblocks remain. Roughly 20% of Indian students who have got admission to American colleges and universities this year have already got their visa. About 30% have secured interview dates. The remaining 50% are stuck—waiting for I-20 forms, which are eligibility certificates issued by a college or a university that is necessary to apply for a student visa, or struggling to find open visa slots. No new interview appointments are being issued right now. And we are in June. The August intake is looming large and, understandably, parents are stressed. My advice is simple: stay calm and have a pragmatic Plan B. Many families are now exploring alternatives like the UK and Singapore, or even returning to top Indian universities. But most students still want to hold out hope. They know—as I do—that there's still nothing quite like a US undergraduate education. In this climate, I see three types of students: The Determined Ones: They're willing to lose a semester or even defer a year, just to make it to their dream US college. The Flexible Planners: These students are seriously weighing options in the UK, Singapore and even top Indian colleges. The Hopeful Majority: They are watching and waiting, believing that visa processes will be realigned in time. And there's reason to believe they will. The pressure on the US government to resolve this is mounting—economically, politically and diplomatically. Getting In The other battle is just getting into an American college. With Common Application, AI-assisted evaluations and higher global applications, US colleges have never been more selective. Consider this: the University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate dropped from 20% in 2005 to just 5.4% in 2024. Boston University's went from 52% to 10.7%. New York University's fell from 32% to a mere 8%. More than 80% of Indian undergraduate applicants to the US are disappointed with the outcomes. Many of them feel they deserve better. But they are up against a system where nearly 35% of seats are locked up by MALDC candidates—Minorities, Athletes, Legacies, Donors and Children of Faculty and Administrators. The competition is only intensifying. The pipeline of Indian applicants is growing rapidly. Students from second- and third-tier towns now outperform their metro-city peers, fuelled by better schools and greater ambition. There has been a huge jump in high-quality institutions across India. IT diploma schools have grown from 80 in 2010 to 175+ today. A-Level schools have doubled from 100 to 200+ in the same period. The US still offers world-class education, but the post-graduation road is no longer guaranteed. A four-year undergraduate degree now costs upwards of $400,000, while an MBA degree can cost $250,000 or more. Yet, only 40% of Indian students who are graduating this year have secured jobs so far. Even in high-demand fields like computer science, the number was lower than expected. Ivy League MBAs are not immune either—23% of Harvard MBA graduates were unemployed three months after graduation in 2024. At Stanford, that figure was 18%, nearly double from just two years ago. Meanwhile, visa uncertainty continues. Optional practical training (OPT) and H-1B rules for visas remain inconsistent. Standardised testing, like the SAT, is making a comeback—adding yet another layer of complexity. As the stakes rise, I encourage students to redefine what success looks like. Elite institutions are fantastic platforms but they are not the only route to achievement. I often recommend Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni. It's a wake-up call for those obsessed with prestige. At the end of the day, real success depends on character, curiosity and grit—not just a brand name. Some of my students are exploring Indian post-grad options like the IIMs. Indian companies increasingly value homegrown talent—those who understand the market and are hungry to build something here. This isn't the new normal. It's a moment in flux. My message to students and parents is: stay flexible, stay informed and keep your eye on the long game. Be prepared to pivot. Don't tie your self-worth to a college name or a country's immigration policy. The path ahead demands resilience—the ability to adapt, to reinvent oneself, to embrace uncertainty. We are entering an era where resilience will matter more than résumés. That's what I tell my students when they call, worried, sometimes in tears. I remind them that uncertainty doesn't equal failure—it's just part of growth. In recent months, I have also found myself having deeper, more philosophical conversations with families which I never used to have 10 or 15 years ago. Parents are beginning to ask not just how to get in, but why they are pursuing this path in the first place. And students are more reflective. They care more about alignment—between their passions, purpose and the education they seek. It's no longer just about getting a US degree. It's about building a life that feels meaningful. My role is no longer just about helping them get into a college—it's about helping them think bigger, with confidence, no matter where they land. After all, the dream isn't changing. It's just getting smarter. The path may no longer be straight. But for those willing to stay the course, it can still lead to something extraordinary. The Ivy League dream is still alive—but maybe, just maybe, it's time to dream wider. (As told to Lijee Philip)
