South Korea says North Korean factories are running at "full capacity" because of... Russia, calls on Pyongyang to "turn around"

On February 26, the South Korean Defense Minister said that North Korea's ammunition factories are operating at full capacity to supply Russia in exchange for food and other essential supplies.

Hàn Quốc nói các nhà máy Triều Tiên hoạt động 'hết công suất' vì Nga, kêu gọi Bình Nhưỡng 'quay đầu'

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region of Russia's Far East in September 2023. (Source: AFP)

Yonhap said Defense Minister Shin Won-sik made the assessment amid growing concerns about allegations that North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia to fuel the conflict in Ukraine, although both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied it.

"While North Korea's overall weapons factories are operating at 30 percent capacity due to a lack of raw materials and electricity, some factories are operating at full capacity, mainly producing weapons and artillery shells for Russia," Shin Won-sik told reporters.

Pyongyang is estimated to have shipped about 6,700 containers to Moscow since the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023. That's enough to hold about 3 million 152mm artillery shells or 500,000 122mm artillery shells, according to South Korean officials.

In return, North Korea appears to be receiving food and other necessities, as well as raw materials and components used in weapons production.

Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, on February 27, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced that Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun urged Pyongyang to return to the denuclearization negotiation table and end its nuclear and missile programs.

Speaking at a high-level session of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, Kang In-sun said that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are the "most urgent task" to be solved for international peace and security.

She also warned that Pyongyang could conduct a seventh nuclear test "whenever they want".

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