The British Conflict Arms Research Center (CAR) recently investigated 290 parts from weapons debris.
Use parts produced within 2 years… “Having a strong procurement network”
It was found that 75% of the parts identified in the remains of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) supplied by North Korea to Russia were made in the United States. North Korea is building an underground supply chain strong enough to produce ballistic missiles at any time, bypassing UN sanctions against North Korea.
The Conflict Arms Research Institute (CAR), a British arms watchdog, examined 290 parts secured from the wreckage of North Korean missiles KN-23 and KN-24 launched at Kharkiv, Ukraine, on January 27 and 1 of this month, and found that the United States, Germany, Japan, It was revealed on the 20th (local time) that it was found that products from 26 companies from 8 countries, including China, were used. According to CAR, 75% of these parts were from the United States, followed by Germany (11.9%), Singapore (3.4%), and Japan (3.1%).
In particular, CAR pointed out that 75% of these components were produced between 2021 and 2023, meaning that North Korea has produced these missiles since March 2023. The White House announced in November 2022 that North Korea’s support for Russian weapons had been detected. It is highly likely that North Korea has a supply chain that can easily bypass UN sanctions against North Korea at Russia’s request and secure parts to quickly manufacture these missiles at any time. After North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution banning the import of North Korea’s ballistic missile-related components.
CAR pointed out, “North Korea transferred weapons to Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which strongly suggests that North Korea has built a strong procurement network that allows it to bypass sanctions that have been in place for about 20 years without detection.”
Meanwhile, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on this day, “We are seeing North Korea’s support for Russia steadily increasing, including ballistic missiles being used on the battlefield in Ukraine,” and “We will be watching to see whether China will support Russia.”
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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.