Russia supplied anti-air missiles to N.Korea: Seoul

Russia has supplied anti-air missiles to North Korea in exchange for it sending troops to support its war against Ukraine, a top South Korean official says.

The US, South Korea and others say North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia, and what Russia would give North Korea in return has been the focus of keen attention.

National security director Shin Wonsik told a South Korean TV program on Friday that Seoul had found Russia had provided anti-air missiles and other equipment to reinforce its air defence network for Pyongyang.

Russia had also given diverse economic assistance to North Korea, Shin said.

Seoul and Washington have voiced worries about possible Russian transfers of sensitive nuclear and missile technology to North Korea.

South Korea's spy agency told MPs on Wednesday that North Korea had recently sent additional artillery systems to Russia as well.

In October, the National Intelligence Service said North Korea had sent more than 13,000 containers of artillery, missiles and other conventional arms to Russia since August 2023 to replenish its dwindling weapons stockpiles.

Earlier this week, North Korea and Russia reached a new agreement for expanding economic co-operation following high-level talks in Pyongyang this week, according to the countries' state-run media.