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Train from North Korea returns to Russia amid arms transfer claims

It was the first time such a train movement had been observed on the route in several years, says US-based think-tank 38 North project, although Russia says the train had crossed into North Korea carrying horses.

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North Korea says it had never supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia and has no plans to do so.

A train has crossed from North Korea into Russia, two days after the United States said it had information indicating Pyongyang is covertly supplying Russia with artillery shells for its conflict in Ukraine, a Washington-based think-tank has said, citing commercial satellite imagery.

The 38 North project, which monitors North Korean developments, said on Friday it was the first time such a train movement had been observed on the route in several years, although Russia's veterinary service reported on Wednesday that a train had crossed the border into North Korea carrying horses.

"It is impossible to determine the purpose of the train from the imagery, but the crossing comes amid reports of arms sales from North Korea to Russia and a general expectation of the resumption of trade between the two countries," 38 North said.

It said North Korea closed the 800-metre Tumangang Friendship Bridge (Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge), the only land link between the countries, in February 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report said that at 10:24 am local time a three-car set of enclosed railcars was visible on the Korean side of the border, and by 1:10 pm local time it appeared to be in Russia behind a locomotive, about 200 metres from the end of the railway bridge.

At 2:29 pm the locomotive and three railcars were visible on tracks at Russia's Khasan Station, approximately 2 kilometres from the border, and three smaller covered railcars, or possible containers on flatcars, were parked alongside the newly arrived train on an adjacent track.

"Whether a transfer of material was in progress could not be determined, and the parked locations of these train sets may have been unrelated," the report said.

Commercial satellite imagery shows a train crossed from #DPRK into Russia on Nov 4. This is the first traffic seen on the route in several years amid reported NK-to-Russia arms sales & expected trade resumption. Analysis: @martyn_williams & Peter Makowsky. https://t.co/Un1ZTTkWbD
— 38 North (@38NorthNK) November 4, 2022

'Significant' number of artillery shells

The White House said on Wednesday that Washington had information indicating North Korea was covertly supplying Russia with a "significant" number of artillery shells for its conflict in Ukraine and was attempting to obscure the shipments by funnelling them through countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

North Korea said in September it had never supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia and has no plans to do so.

According to a statement from Russia's state veterinary service on Wednesday, Russia and North Korea restarted train travel for the first time since the pandemic with a cargo of 30 grey thoroughbred "Orlov Trotter" horses into North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is known as a keen horseman.

He was shown in 2019 by North Korean media trekking through mountain snow astride a white stallion.

Russian customs data shows North Korea has spent thousands of dollars on thoroughbred horses from Russia in previous years.

SOURCE: Reuters