The White House assessed in October that North Korea sent Russia “more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions,” according to the U.S. mission to the U.N.

“In return for its support, we assess that Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, or other materials and other advanced technologies,” National Security Council spokeserson John Kirby told the press.

A few days later, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held talks with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Pyongyang. While details were thin