Satellite Images Show Sanctioned Russian Ship Back at North Korean Weapons Port

The Russian cargo vessel Lady R, sanctioned for facilitating illicit weapons trade with North Korea, has reappeared this week at the northeastern port of Rason for the first time in two months, likely as part of ongoing arms deliveries to Moscow.

NK Pro reported the development on October 2 based on new satellite imagery from Planet Labs.

According to the analysis, Lady R was observed at Russia’s Vostochny port between September 24 and 26 before arriving in Rason at the end of the month. On Wednesday, the vessel offloaded containers, and by Thursday it had likely shifted to a neighboring pier to pick up maritime containers that had been accumulating there since mid-September.

The exact contents of the shipments remain unknown, but since August 2023 Russia has repeatedly collected containers from the port. Analysts also note that some containers remain at the pier for weeks, raising the possibility that they may often be empty.

According to NK Pro, the United States, Ukraine, and South Korea have accused Pyongyang of supplying Russia with millions of artillery shells and various weapons systems—including Hwasong-11 series short-range ballistic missiles and anti-tank guided missiles—for use in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the same time, experts caution that cross-border rail links between Russia and North Korea could also be used to sustain the covert arms pipeline.

Earlier, it was reported that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is leading NATO’s Neptune Strike 2025-3 maritime exercise from September 22 to 26, showcasing allied naval power and strengthening deterrence against Russian aggression.

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