In the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Russia has found its most crucial ally in Kim Jong Un‘s North Korea, not China, according to Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency GUR.

What Happened: Despite Russia’s strengthening alliances with global powerhouses like China and India, North Korea, a nation crippled by decades of sanctions, has provided the most valuable support during the war. Budanov voiced his concerns over North Korea’s military aid to Russia at a Kyiv event on Saturday, Reuters reported on Sunday.

“They supply huge amounts of artillery ammunition, which is critical for Russia,” Budanov said, noting the increase in battlefield hostilities following such deliveries.

North Korea has been dispatching millions of shells from its aging stockpiles and boosting domestic production to supply Russian forces. In exchange, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has received new security pledges and access to valuable Russian military technology.

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In addition, North Korea has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles, which the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency reported in May were used in attacks on Ukrainian towns.

Despite the questionable quality of North Korean shells and equipment, they remain a vital resource for the Russian military. Russia has also been receiving supplies of ballistic missiles from Iran and is reportedly enhancing its capacity to produce the “glide bomb” missiles that have devastated Ukrainian positions.

Why It Matters: The support from North Korea comes amid Russia’s military expansion, with the army set to become the world’s second-largest behind China. This expansion has been facilitated by the support from North Korea and other allies.

North Korea’s alliance with Russia has been strengthening over time. In July, North Korea switched its state-run broadcasters from China’s satellite to Russia’s, symbolizing a weakening dependence on Beijing. This move hinted at a strengthening of ties between North Korea and Russia, particularly concerning the Ukraine war.

Later that month, a new defense pact was established between North Korea and Russia during Putin’s visit to North Korea. This pact added another layer of complexity to the global situation, including the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari