North Korea is sending artillery shells to Russia to use against Ukraine, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday, less than two months after Pyongyang rejected earlier claims it was helping Russia’s war effort but defended its right to do so. 

A department spokesperson told NK News the U.S. has information that indicates North Korea is “covertly supplying Russia’s war in Ukraine with a significant number of artillery shells” while disguising the shipments as bound for the Middle East or North Africa.