DPRK is the largest supplier of weapons to Russia directly — military observer

Russia does not have enough weapons to wage war against Ukraine, so it turns to Iran and the DPRK for help. While the Russians are producing the latest weapons, they are insufficient for the needs of the frontline.

This was stated by military observer Denys Popovych on Hromadske Radio.

According to Popovych, Russia is assisted in weapon production by China, which supplies the relevant equipment. Currently, the largest direct arms supplies are being made by North Korea.

«North Korea has been supplying the Russian army with ammunition to cover their needs for fighting. They are not doing well. They are removing old Soviet tanks and artillery from storage bases and deploying them to the front. The main tank is the T-62 from the Khrushchev era. Yes, it can hit and cause trouble; we should not underestimate it. But when we talk about the ‘second army of the world,’ as they have recently positioned themselves, a 60-year-old Khrushchev-era tank does not correlate with this status», — says Popovych.

Popovych adds that, in addition to artillery and tanks, the Russians have problems with armored combat vehicles and ammunition.

Meanwhile, the Russians are producing the latest weapons, including T-90 tanks, modernized missiles, drones, and guided aerial bombs. They are trying to increase production, but so far, the number of weapons does not meet the needs of the frontline.

«The old equipment they are taking out of storage and upgrading is included in the total production. This shows that the situation is not as good as they would like it to be. Will it change? We will see. So far, the trend is that they are not significantly increasing production of new equipment», — says Popovych.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia continues to deepen its bilateral relations with Iran and North Korea, receiving lethal weapons for use in the war against Ukraine.

According to South Korea, the DPRK’s gross domestic product grew by 3.1% in 2023 compared to 2022. North Korea’s heavy and chemical industries, including the production of iron, steel, copper, nickel, and aluminum, grew by 8.1% last year. South Korea believes that Russia’s supply of food to the DPRK in exchange for weapons helped Pyongyang stabilize prices and likely stimulated North Korean domestic production.

North Korea has reportedly transferred about 4.8 million artillery shells to Russia.

At the same time, the Russians are also helping their partners. For example, Iran has requested modern air defense systems from Russia as it prepares for a possible war with Israel. According to the NYT, deliveries are already underway.