Trains and ships continue to move actively in the border area between North Korea and Russia. There is a possibility that arms trade between North Korea and Russia may have begun in earnest.
On the 10th, the Voice of America (VOA) reported that an object covered with a blue tarpaulin was captured in North Korea, citing a Planet Labs satellite photo taken of the North Korea-Russia border area on the 6th.
This is also where the U.S. White House released a satellite photo of a North Korean train moving late last year, saying it was evidence of arms trade between North Korea and Russia.
VOA reported that the amount of cargo here has been increasing noticeably recently. On the 24th of last month, white cargo was spotted on the track side, and on the 28th, a larger amount of blue cargo appeared in the center. Subsequently, blue cargo of different sizes and shapes was captured on the 29th and 30th of last month, and the amount increased further on the 5th and 6th of this month.
VOA pointed out that changes in the amount and shape of the cargo mean that the cargo is continuously moved on the train.
VOA reported that the types of trains that stop in this area are also becoming more diverse. On the 24th of last month, trains measuring 225m, 110m, and 60m in length were discovered, and the number of trains has continued to vary since then. Then, on the 6th, about 5 trains about 200 meters in length were captured.
Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, “If you look at commercial satellite images, you can see that the number of trains passing through Hassan, the North-Russian border area, has increased significantly.” He added, “I wonder if ammunition bound for Russia from North Korea was loaded or whether Russia is heading to North Korea.” “I don’t know exactly if something is being sent, but it is important that train traffic continues after the North Korea-Russia summit,” he said.
Recent movements are continuing in North Korea’s Rajin Port, adjacent to Russia. VOA reported that since the end of last month, ships around 100 meters in length have been spotted at Rajin Port, and this is also likely to be a movement of logistics, such as arms trade between North Korea and Russia.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.