Russia handed over more than a million barrels of oil to the DPRK in exchange for weapons
Since March 2024, Russia has transferred more than a million barrels of oil (about 56,000 tons) to North Korea, probably as payment for military support. About this informs BBC with reference to research by the British Open Source Centre.
According to an analysis of satellite images, North Korean tankers made 43 trips between a Russian oil terminal in the Far East and North Korean ports between March and November 2024. Ships arrived empty, and returned fully loaded with oil.
Experts and British Foreign Minister David Lammy believe that these deliveries are payment for weapons and military personnel with which North Korea supports Russian aggression against Ukraine. The first flight was recorded on March 7, seven months after the first reports of North Korea supplying Russia with ammunition. The last flight took place on November 5.
“The steady flow of oil provides North Korea with a level of stability not seen since the introduction of sanctions”, – said the senior analyst of the Open Source Center, Joe Burn.
The volume of Russian oil entering North Korea violates UN sanctions, which limit supplies to 500,000 barrels per year. These restrictions are designed to deprive North Korea of opportunities to develop nuclear weapons.
The Russian side traditionally does not comment on accusations of illegal cooperation with North Korea. Over the past few weeks, North Korea has transferred to Russia about 50 M1989 “Koksan” self-propelled artillery systems and 20 modernized multiple rocket launchers, some of which have already been transferred to the Kursk region.
