Since the summer of 2023, four Russian ships have made at least 112 trips to North Korea, delivering between 8 to 11 million shells to Russia. This averages around 350,000 shells per month, potentially sufficient for the Russian army to conduct offensive operations for approximately a month. Companies "MG-Flot" and "Sovfraht" were involved in these supplies from North Korea.

From the autumn of 2024, deliveries from North Korea began to decline, with only one shipment reported by early 2026. This reduction may be attributed to Russia increasing its shell production or possibly due to North Korean stockpiles being depleted. Reports also surfaced in the autumn of 2024 about thousands of North Korean soldiers being sent to Russia to participate in combat operations against Ukraine.

By 2025, Russian forces recovered part of the Kursk region, previously taken by the Ukrainian army. Both the Kremlin and Pyongyang confirmed North Korea's involvement in the conflict, indicating an escalating military partnership between the two nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. This partnership could have significant implications for regional stability and international relations, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.