Russia flouts UN sanctions with weapons, oil, and financial support to North Korea: Report

A Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report highlights extensive flow of weapons between Russia and North Korea

A recently leaked report from an international monitoring group has revealed a significant increase in secret military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, openly breaching long-standing United Nations sanctions.

According to a report by News18, a multilateral task force based in Seoul released findings on Thursday alleging that Russia has supplied North Korea with advanced air defence systems, electronic warfare equipment, and other military hardware in recent months.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) report states that Russia started supplying North Korea with Pantsir-S1 mobile air defence systems as early as November 2024. This short-range tactical system, capable of intercepting aircraft and missile threats within a 1.2 to 20-kilometer radius, is the same platform Russia uses to protect its own airspace from drone and missile attacks.

The MSMT, formed last year after Russia vetoed the extension of the UN’s North Korea sanctions panel, consists of 11 nations including the United States, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan. The group was established to uphold transparency and accountability following the UN panel's disbandment.

The report highlights an extensive flow of weapons between Russia and North Korea. Since September 2023, North Korea is estimated to have delivered approximately 20,000 containers of military equipment to Russia. These shipments are said to contain over 9 million artillery shells, hundreds of tactical missiles, and various other munitions—sufficient to equip multiple Russian brigades fighting in Ukraine.

The report alleged that Russian military aircraft, notably the Ilyushin IL-76 and Antonov AN-124 strategic airlifters, were used to transport North Korean weapons between November and December 2023. It also claimed that Russia played a role in helping North Korea improve its missile guidance systems—a significant violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that Russia had previously supported.

Russia’s blatant violation of the arms embargo is one matter, but actively assisting North Korea in enhancing missile accuracy crosses a dangerous line, said a diplomat in Seoul speaking on condition of anonymity, as per News18 report.

In addition to the weapons shipments, the MSMT report accused Russia of providing North Korea with crude oil well above the limits set by the UN. More than 1 million barrels were reportedly supplied last year, which is double the permitted quantity. The report also claimed that around 8,000 North Korean laborers, whose overseas employment is banned under UN rules, were sent to work in Russia.

The report also highlights that Russia and North Korea were routing financial transactions through South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia supported by Russia and known for its dubious banking practices.