North Korea secretly transfers ammunition to Russia

CNN reports the news referring to the statement of John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications of the White House.

"In September, the DPRK publicly denied it intended to supply ammunition to Russia. However, our information indicates that the DPRK secretly supplies a significant amount of artillery shells for Russia's war in Ukraine", he said.

According to Kirby, North Korea makes it appear as though the supply of ammunition goes to countries of the Middle East or North Africa, but in fact Russians troops receive them in order to use it in the war against Ukraine.

US officials say secret deliveries from North Korea, along with drones and other weapons Russia has acquired from Iran are further evidence that even Moscow's conventional artillery arsenals have been depleted during eight months of fighting.

Kirby stressed that the US will continue to monitor the supplies.

• On November 1, Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported that Iran will send 200 more combat drones to Russia in early November. Since September 13, when Russian occupying forces first used Iranian ‘kamikaze’ drones against Ukraine, Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down more than 300 such UAVs. 

• Also, on November 1, CNN reported that Iran prepares to send a new batch of weapons to Russia by the end of 2022, which will consist of 1,000 drones and ballistic missiles.