Russian military forces have intensified their missile strikes on vital civilian infrastructure in Ukraine using weaponry sourced from North Korea, according to a new report by a coalition of UN member states. These attacks have resulted in widespread fear across major urban areas, underlining Moscow’s increasing reliance on Pyongyang.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team—which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, members of the European Union, and Japan—stated that North Korea has delivered over 20,000 containers of arms and ammunition to Russia since September 2023, under the direction of Kim Jong-un’s regime.

The group’s findings indicate that Russia and North Korea have been involved in a range of sanctions violations, contravening multiple United Nations resolutions aimed at restricting military cooperation between the two nations.

In June 2024, Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a sweeping strategic partnership agreement. This treaty includes a mutual defense clause, obliging each country to support the other in the event of an external attack.

This marks the first report by the monitoring team, established in 2024 to oversee enforcement of UN sanctions instated in response to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. The document estimates that up to nine million rounds of artillery shells and rocket ammunition have been transferred from North Korea to aid Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.

“North Korea and Russia appear committed to continuing and deepening their military collaboration, in direct violation of several UN Security Council mandates,” the team concluded. North Korea’s support has reportedly amplified Russia’s ability to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian metropolitan centers, particularly targeting vital civilian resources.

In exchange for military aid, including several thousand troops and advanced weapons, North Korea is reportedly seeking assistance from Russia to advance its struggling reconnaissance satellite program.

Since September 2023, Pyongyang has reportedly sent at least 100 ballistic missiles to Moscow, along with mobile artillery systems, long-range multiple rocket launchers, and a variety of other munitions.

According to the report, these arms have been delivered by land, sea, and air, reflecting a robust logistical partnership between the two countries.

The North Korean missiles were used in direct assaults on infrastructure and populated areas such as Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia, the report claimed, accusing Russia of employing them as tools of urban intimidation.

In return, the Kremlin has provided North Korea with technical feedback on missile performance observed during the Ukraine conflict, helping Pyongyang refine its guidance capabilities and bolster its defense hardware.

Russia has also supplied North Korea with electronic warfare systems, anti-aircraft munitions, and air defense technology, the report noted.

Roughly 11,000 North Korean troops sent in the past year to support Russian operations in Ukraine have gained battlefield experience. Alarmed by these developments, South Korea has expressed concern, particularly as an additional 3,000 North Korean troops were recently deployed.

The 11-nation sanctions monitoring body was created after a Russian veto in March 2024 blocked a resolution that would have extended the UN Security Council’s expert panel responsible for tracking North Korean sanctions compliance.

Kim and Putin acknowledged for the first time last month that North Korean soldiers have been actively participating in combat alongside Russian troops, referring to them as “heroes” of the war effort.