Russia has asked North Korea for ammunition for use in the war in Ukraine, U.S. government officials said Tuesday, confirming media reports that Moscow seeks to purchase millions of DPRK rockets and artillery shells.

Spokespersons for the Defense and State Departments said Russia is in the process of purchasing the ammunition but did not indicate that North Korea has made any cross-border munitions shipments.

“We do have indications that Russia has approached North Korea to request ammunition,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a briefingon Tuesday, while declining to comment on whether Russia has already paid