WASHINGTON – Russia’s hunt for weapons to fire at Ukraine could provide a lifeline for North Korea.
While the Biden administration said the weapons won’t do much to alter the battlefield, the sales would open a new stream of revenue to a country isolated from much of world trade. North Korea’s economy failed to grow in 2021 and faced uncertain prospects last year, according to the Bank of Korea in Seoul, one of the few entities to produce regular assessments of the country’s outlook.
North Korea possesses untold stores of munitions to supply what the International Institute of Strategic Studies estimates is an arsenal of more than 21,600 artillery pieces.“North Korea would grab with both hands an opportunity to get rid of ageing stocks of legacy munitions at a significant markup,” weapons expert Joost Oliemans said.
“We obviously condemn North Korea’s actions, and we urge North Korea to cease these deliveries to Wagner immediately,” Mr Kirby said, pointing out the benefits to Mr Kim’s regime for the transfers. “Let’s keep it in perspective. This is not a burgeoning economy,” he said.Some North Korean items likely on Mr Putin’s wish list would be 122mm and 152mm artillery rounds as well as 122mm rockets, Mr Oliemens said.
Any weapons sales would mark a reversal in roles between the neighbours, since North Korea for decades relied on weapons from its former benefactor, the Soviet Union.
straits_times Could? It is. Despotic regimes helping each other. Another reason to defeat russia as soon as possible.