US officials have alleged that North Korea has supplied significant quantities of military equipment to Russia for deployment in Ukraine.

According to National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby, Pyongyang has delivered approximately 1,000 containers of "equipment and munitions" in recent weeks. Alongside this claim, officials have released images depicting 300 containers prepared for transportation in Najin, North Korea.

In the previous month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a visit to Russia to discuss the potential for military collaboration. Given Russia's extensive use of artillery shells and missiles during its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has been seeking to replenish its military resources from some of its isolated allies.

Some experts speculate that Kim's regime possesses substantial stockpiles of arms, but might be hesitant to provide too much, considering its limited resources.

US intelligence agencies have tracked these deliveries, which reportedly occurred between September 7 and October 1. John Kirby, speaking at a press conference, explained that the equipment was transported by sea and rail to a supply depot in southwestern Russia, located near Tikhoretsk, approximately 180 miles (290 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border.

Though Kirby did not specify the exact nature of the munitions provided by Kim's regime, the US has previously accused Moscow of acquiring rockets and artillery shells from North Korea.

Since Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, US officials have consistently expressed concerns that North Korea has been supplying munitions to Russia. Kirby declared, "We condemn North Korea for furnishing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, harm Ukrainian civilians, and further Russia's illegitimate war."

He emphasized that these deliveries by North Korea violate UN Security Council resolutions, and the US, in conjunction with its allies and partners, will continue to actively raise these arms deals at the UN.

In July, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea with a military delegation, where he met with Kim and was presented with various weapon systems, including the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

In September, Mr Kim met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Space Centre in Russia's Far East.

Observers say that North Korean weapons would only give a short-term boost to Russia's war effort. They point to how Moscow, with hugely depleted ammunition, is relying on older, more unreliable artillery shell stocks.

And speaking recently at a ceremony to mark his retirement as chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Mark Milley said he was "skeptical" that any such deliveries would play a decisive role in the conflict.

But it comes as the US has been forced to pause plans to send an additional $6bn in military aid to Kyiv, amid an ongoing budget row in the House of Representatives.

President Biden said earlier this week that the temporary agreement between House Democrats and Republicans may force him to find alternative ways to fund Ukraine's war effort.

Wonders shall never cease