A Russian freighter appears to have docked at a North Korean port tied to suspected arms transfers for the first known time in a month, according to NK Pro analysis, amid new allegations that the DPRK is sending old and dysfunctional weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine.

A vessel closely resembling the Russia-flagged Lady R berthed at Pier 2 at the DPRK port of Rason on Monday, Planet Labs satellite imagery shows, suggesting the vessel is picking up containers from the pier.

Satellite imagery shows multiple containers stacked on Pier 2 and the adjacent embankment, though NK Pro cannot independently verify their contents.

Unlike on past visits to Rason, the Lady R did not appear to offload any cargo at Pier 1, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

The Lady R’s last known visit to Rason took place on April 14, with the ship docking at the embankment adjacent to Pier 2 after appearing to drop off containers at Pier 1. The vessel reappeared on April 18 at Russia’s Vostochny Port, a key destination for suspected arms deliveries from North Korea.

The freighter disappeared from satellite imagery shortly after, sailing to an unknown location with its automatic identification system (AIS) turned off, making it invisible to monitors.

But a vessel clearly resembling the Lady R resurfaced at Vostochny once again from May 1-3, appearing loaded with multiple containers in a sign that it may have made another delivery of containers from Rason.

Katsu Furukawa, a former member of the U.N. Panel of Experts, told NK Pro that the fact that the Lady R sailed to Rason with its AIS signal off indicates its likely involvement in clandestine activities, possibly related to arms transfers from North Korea.

Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, a project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, agreed that “the arms trade [between Russia and North Korea] is still going on.”

He also pointed out that a monthlong delay in the Lady R’s voyages to Rason may be attributed to the “substandard” quality of North Korean port facilities, which could cause issues with loading or unloading.

The expert suggested that smuggling activities may expand beyond Rason to include other ports, like Sinpo and Chongjin, down the DPRK’s east coast.

The Lady R’s trip to Rason comes amid ROK reports that North Korea has been providing Russia with 122mm rockets dating back to the late 1970s. Seoul’s National Intelligence Service told NK Pro it is investigating the reports.

Ukraine has also claimed that at least half of the North Korean missiles Russia fired at Ukrainian cities exploded in midair, presumably due to poor quality.

Analysis of DPRK missile debris from Ukraine has determined that North Korea heavily relies on foreign components for production, but recent reports have found that the country also counterfeited some parts based on designs from producers in Japan and Europe.

North Korea could have delivered over 3 million 152mm artillery shells or 500,000 122mm self-propelled rockets to Russia since last August, ROK defense minister Shin Won-sik reportedly said in February. 

At the time, Kyiv offered a more modest estimate of around 1.5 million artillery shells.

OTHER SHIPS

The Lady R is one of four ships, along with the Angara, Maia-1 and Maria, that NK Pro has identified as part of the clandestine shipping operation, which initially involved deliveries of containers from Rason to the Russian military base of Dunay before expanding to include Vostochny Port.

The U.S. previously alleged that Russia transported containers of DPRK military equipment from Dunay to near the Ukrainian border for use in the war.

All four identified vessels are subject to U.S. sanctions, while the Lady R is also known for its alleged involvement in delivering military equipment to South Africa in Dec. 2022.

While the vessels’ whereabouts are often difficult to ascertain as they largely sail with their transponders switched off, some of them intermittently resume broadcasts, providing some insight into their voyages.

The Maia-1 has been broadcasting its AIS signal from a maintenance pier in western Vladivostok since May 2, with satellite imagery confirming its current location. The vessel traveled to another shipyard in Slavyanka Bay on April 18, some 80 km from the North Korean border, according to MarineTraffic.

The Angara likely underwent maintenance at China’s Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard, south of Shanghai, from early February until late last month, when it set sail and switched off its AIS signal. 

The ship notably updated its maritime certificates while at Zhoushan, including one allowing it to carry dangerous goods, according to Russia’s maritime register.

Very little is known about the fourth ship — the Maria — due to its under-the-radar voyages and resemblance to other cargo vessels of comparable dimensions.

But Planet Labs satellite imagery suggests that the Maria made at least one voyage to Rason on April 7 and returned to Vostochny Port on April 10, likely with a new load of containers onboard.

Colin Zwirko contributed reporting to this article. Edited by Bryan Betts