**North Korea Prepares to Send More Arms to Russia**
Satellite images analyzed by the Wall Street Journal suggest that North Korea is preparing to send more arms to Russia. This comes after South Korea’s military announced earlier this month that Pyongyang was planning to deploy more troops and weapons to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine.
According to the WSJ, approximately 200 munitions factories in North Korea are running at full capacity to produce weapons. Russia has been providing fuel and equipment to help with these efforts. In return for its arms and ammunition sent to Russia, North Korea may have received up to $5.5 billion, an analyst told the WSJ.
**Russia’s Use of North Korean Troops in Ukraine**
North Korea has emerged as Russia’s leading ally in the war against Ukraine. The two nations signed a defense treaty in June, which requires either state to render military aid to the other in the event of an attack. After reporting clashes with North Korean troops in the fall, Ukraine announced that Russia had begun using North Korean units in ground assaults in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
According to reports, at least 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine. Lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon said that these troops are suffering high casualty rates due to their lack of experience with drone warfare.
**Other Developments**
Berlin supplied Ukraine with 15 Leopard 1A5 tanks and other aid in the latest delivery. A new poll shows that nearly half of Ukrainians support Ukraine joining NATO, even if some territories remain under Russian occupation at the time of accession.
In related news, a cargo ship registered as Ursa Major was seen moving slowly across the open sea between Spain and Algeria. This comes as concerns grow over Russia’s military activities in the region.
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