North Korea Deepens Military Support for Russia

North Korea has supplied Russia with more than 12 million artillery shells and deployed thousands of troops, particularly in the Kursk region, to support Russia's war in Ukraine, according to South Korean and international sources. During a recent three-day visit to North Korea, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the 'combat brotherhood' between the two countries and confirmed North Korea's 'unconditional' support for Russia's military operations. Both nations pledged to deepen their long-term strategic partnership, including arms transfers in exchange for technology and aid. Lavrov warned the US, South Korea, and Japan against forming security alliances targeting Russia or North Korea and expressed understanding for North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Discussions also focused on boosting Russian tourism and maritime transport with North Korea. Western governments have condemned these developments, citing concerns about regional security and the potential proliferation of sensitive technologies.