What's happened
Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, highlights North Korea's significant military aid to Russia, surpassing other allies. This support includes artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles, raising concerns for Ukraine and its Western allies amid ongoing hostilities.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Tom Porter from Business Insider UK, Kyrylo Budanov emphasized that North Korea's military aid is more concerning for Ukraine than support from other allies. He noted that North Korea supplies 'huge amounts of artillery ammunition,' which has intensified battlefield activities. Meanwhile, U.S. officials, as reported by Politico, have raised alarms about China's substantial support for Russia, stating that it directly aids the Russian military's capabilities. Kurt Campbell, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, asserted that this assistance is not merely dual-use technology but is applied directly to the Russian war machine. This highlights a complex web of alliances that could reshape military dynamics in the region.
How we got here
As the war in Ukraine continues, Russia has increasingly relied on North Korea for military supplies. This shift has been facilitated by a security pact between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, allowing North Korea to bolster its economy while aiding Russia's military efforts.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.