WASHINGTON: A train from North Korea crossed into Russia, two days after the United States said it had information showing Pyongyang was secretly supplying Russia with artillery for its war in Ukraine. , a Washington think tank said, citing commercial satellite images.
The 38 North Project, which monitors developments in North Korea, said it was the first train traffic on the route in years, although Russia’s Veterinary Service reported on Wednesday that a train carrying horses Crossed the border into North Korea. .
“It is impossible to determine the train’s purpose from the photo, but the crossing comes amid reports of North Korea selling arms to Russia and general expectations of a resumption of trade between the two countries,” North said.
It said North Korea closed the 800-meter (yard) Tamangang Friendship Bridge (Korea-Russia Friendship Bridge), the only land link between the countries, in February 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A three-car set of rail cars was visible on the Korean side of the border at 10:24 a.m. local time (0124 GMT), and at 1:10 p.m. local time (0410 GMT), the report said. ) until it appears about 200 meters (yards) from the end of the railway bridge behind a locomotive.
At 2:29 p.m. (0529 GMT) railcars and three railcars were seen on the tracks at Russia’s Khasan station about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the border, and three small covered railcars, or possible on flatcars. The containers were standing side by side. New arrival train on adjacent track.
The report said that it could not be determined whether the transfer of material was in progress and the places where these train seats were parked could not be related.
The White House said on Wednesday that Washington has information showing that North Korea is secretly supplying Russia with a “significant” number of artillery shells for its war in Ukraine and the Middle East. And is trying to obfuscate the shipment by sending it through North African countries. .
North Korea said in September that it had never supplied Russia with weapons or ammunition and had no plans to do so. Read more
Russia and North Korea resumed train travel with a cargo of 30 gray “Orlov Trotter” horses to North Korea for the first time since the pandemic, according to a statement from Russia’s State Veterinary Service on Wednesday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is known as an avid horseman. He was shown by North Korean media in 2019 trekking through mountain snow on a white horse. Russian customs data show North Korea has spent thousands of dollars on Russian-made horses over the years.
