Russia: The Russian Defense Ministry is currently buying millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea to support its invasion of Ukraine, according to a recently downgraded US intelligence finding.

The fact that Russia was turning to North Korea, according to a US official who spoke on record but who requested anonymity, showed that "Russian forces are facing serious supply shortages in Ukraine." is suffering, partly because of export controls and sanctions."

According to US intelligence officials, Russian military equipment could potentially be added in the future. The New York Times was the first to report the intelligence discovery.

The discovery follows recent confirmation by the Biden administration that Iranian-made drones were delivered to the Russian military in August for use in the conflict in Ukraine.

The Biden administration claims Russia is pursuing hundreds of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles, and the White House reported last week that Russia has experienced technical issues with the Mojar-6 and Shaheed-series drones (UAVs).

While much of Europe and the West have distanced themselves, North Korea has sought to strengthen its ties with Russia. The regime has blamed the US for the Ukraine crisis, saying the West's "hegemony policy" justifies Russia's use of force to defend itself in Ukraine.

North Koreans have expressed interest in sending workers to help rebuild the country's eastern Russian-occupied territories.

In a recent meeting with representatives of two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine's Donbass region, North Korea's ambassador to Moscow expressed optimism about cooperation in the "zone of labor migration" and sought his country's support as justification. The pandemic cited easing of border controls.

In July, North Korea joined Russia in recognizing the self-declared republics in Luhansk and Donetsk, making it the only country other than Russia and Syria to do so.

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