North Korea delivers three million artillery shells to Russia each year Western intelligence sources say

North Korea provides half of the artillery shells used by Russia in Ukraine, based on Western intelligence sources.

Approximately three million shells are shipped annually from Pyongyang to Moscow, although many of them are thought to be defective, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Nevertheless, a big volume of shells has significantly contributed to Russia's incremental gains in eastern Ukraine, including the recent capture of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast earlier this week.

With Russian ammunition supplies dwindling due to heavy usage in Ukraine, North Korea is emerging as Russia's primary external arms supplier. In August, North Korea shipped containers to Russia that could potentially hold over six million artillery shells. 

In return for this ammunition, Russia allegedly offered North Korea technology for deploying spy satellites, as well as tanks and aircraft. In late June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a partnership agreement committing to mutual aid in the event of an attack on either country. 

South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik stated in June that Pyongyang also supplied dozens of ballistic missiles for use by Russian forces in Ukraine. However, concerns have been raised about their reliability; approximately half of the North Korean missiles launched at Ukraine by Russia have malfunctioned and exploded mid-air.

By Naila Huseynova