Is North Korea Aligning Itself With Putin Against Ukraine?

The U.S. is reportedly alleging that North Korea is covertly supplying Russia with artillery shells to use against Ukraine in its ongoing war, countering the East Asian country's previous denial of doing so.

CNN, citing newly declassified intelligence, reported Wednesday that North Korea was attempting to hide its alleged shipments to Russia by making it look as though they are actually going to nations in the Middle East or North Africa.

Newsweek was not able to independently confirm the report and reached out to the Kremlin and Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations for verification and comment.

In early September, The New York Times and other outlets reported that Russia was buying millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea, and was expected to make additional purchases in the future. Experts said at the time that the alleged purchases, if true, could point to a depletion of Russia's supplies in the war that began when Ukraine was invaded on February 24.

In a statement issued later that month, an official described as the "vice director general of the General Bureau of Equipment of the Ministry of National Defense" for the DPRK (North Korea's official title) denied the reports.

"We take this opportunity to make clear one thing," the official said. "We have never exported weapons or ammunition to Russia before and we will not plan to export them. It is not sure from where the rumor originated which the U.S. is spreading, but it is aimed at tarnishing the DPRK's image."

In light of the new reports that North Korea allegedly provided Russia with artillery shells, David Welch, a university research chair and professor of political science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, told Newsweek that there was "no question" North Korea was siding with Russia in the war.

"It's one of just a few countries that voted against the [United Nations General Assembly] resolution to condemn the invasion in the first place," he said. "And it's one of the few countries that voted against condemning Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory.

North Korea is "very firmly" in Russia's camp, Welch added.

When the U.N. General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution in early March condemning Russia's invasion and calling for the immediate withdrawal of troops, only Syria, Belarus, Eritrea and Russia joined North Korea in voting against it. North Korea, Belarus, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria voted against another resolution last month calling on countries to not recognize Russia's declared annexation of four regions of Ukraine, a move global leaders have decried as illegitimate and illegal.

Natalia Slavney, a research associate at the Stimson Center think tank and assistant editor for the 38 North site that provides North Korea analysis, told Newsweek that North Korea "has been clear about supporting Russia throughout 2022."

Like Welch, Slavney noted that North Korea was one of the countries to vote against the resolution in March and pointed to pledges of mutual support and deepening relations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, North Korea blamed the outbreak of conflict on the "hegemonic policy" and "high-handedness" of the U.S. and the West, Reuters reported.

"Russia and North Korea have a long-standing history of economic cooperation as well," Slavney said.

She added that railway trade between the two countries has reportedly started again recently, so "sending weapons and related supplies would make sense, given the context."

The Russian news agency Interfax reported Wednesday that rail trade between Russia and North Korea had resumed following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.