North Korea may already be sending weaponry to Russia

A surge in freight traffic at a North Korean rail station suggests Kim Jong-un is already sending weapons to Russia.

Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny cosmodrome. Picture: AFP

A surge in freight traffic at a North Korean railway station on the Russian border suggests that Kim Jong-un is already sending weapons to President Vladimir Putin after a meeting between the leaders last month.

Satellite photographs taken last week show “a dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic” at the Tumangang freight facility, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington. “It is probable that these shipments are to support Russia in its war with Ukraine,” it said.

Kim spent five days in Russia last month and met Mr Putin at the Vostochny spaceport in the country’s far east. He also visited military factories, inspected aircraft and missile systems, and inspected the Russian navy at its base in Vladivostok.

No announcement was made, but the American government believes that the two leaders agreed on the transfer of North Korean arms in return for Russian technical help.

Last week CBS News quoted an unnamed US official who said that the North had begun sending artillery to Russia. The same day, commercial satellite photographs revealed 73 freight cars on sidings in Tumangang, which is close to the railway bridge that connects Russia and North Korea across the Tumen river.

“A review of publicly available satellite images over the past five years shows approximately 20 railcars at this facility at most, less than a third of the number of railcars seen in the most recent image,” a report by the think tank said. “The extensive use of tarps to cover the shipping crates/containers and equipment makes it impossible to conclusively identify what is seen.”

The presence of building materials around Tumangang and the construction of a wall with guard posts suggest that its capacity will be increased and that sensitive freight will pass through.

“The ongoing presence of concrete railroad ties and ballasting operations throughout the railyard over the past year indicates a concerted effort to both maintain and upgrade the facility supporting the movement of goods.”

The US government has urged Russia not to conduct any arms deals with North Korea, which are banned under UN security council resolutions that Moscow has supported.

“When you see Kim Jong-un vowing to provide full, unconditional support for Russia’s so-called ‘sacred fight’ to defend its security interests … that of course is troubling,” Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, said after the summit last month.

“When you see what looks to be increased co-operation and probably military transfers – as we’ve said, we have reason to believe they were going to discuss military transfers – that is quite troubling and would potentially be in violation of multiple UN security council resolutions.”

The Times