Two Russian government aircraft appeared to travel to North Korea in the dark of night last week, including a cargo plane the U.S. previously accused of delivering DPRK ballistic missiles for use against Ukraine, according to NK Pro analysis of flight tracking data.

It is the latest in a steady stream of unpublicized Russian military flights to North Korea since last fall, amid questions about whether Moscow is acquiring short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from the DPRK by sea or by air.

Flightradar24 data shows a Russian 224th Flight Unit State Airlines Antonov An-124 cargo plane (tail number RA-82030) — one of the largest transport planes in the world — was traveling from the DPRK toward Vladivostok just east of the two countries’ shared coastal border at 6:47 a.m. KST on March 21.

It appeared to have been in North Korea, likely Pyongyang, for several hours. Tracking data shows it departed Vladivostok around 2:30 a.m. KST before quickly shutting off its location transponder.

It’s likely the plane went to Pyongyang given that another Russian government aircraft, a “Special Flight Squadron” Tupolev Tu-154 (tail number RA-85843), flew from Vladivostok to Pyongyang hours earlier.

That plane departed the Russian Far East city just before midnight on March 20 before landing in Pyongyang after 12:24 a.m. KST on March 21. It then left Pyongyang for Vladivostok less than two hours later, around the same time the cargo plane left Vladivostok. 

The U.S. Department of Treasury singled out the 224th Flight Unit and the same cargo plane with tail number RA-82030 in new sanctions measures in January, saying it was “involved in the transfers of DPRK ballistic missiles and missile-related cargo transfers in late Nov. 2023,” without disclosing locations or the exact date.

The plane does not appear to have broadcast its location during the alleged November flight, raising questions over why it did so during part of last week’s flight.

South Korea’s TV Chosun News reported on the cargo plane on Saturday, citing an anonymous “ROK-U.S. intelligence authority” source but without including details such as the model, tail number or timing.

The source reportedly said intelligence agencies caught the plane picking up cargo 50 feet (15 meters) in length “presumed to be SRBMs.”

The An-124 is capable of transporting large and heavy weapon systems like missiles and transporter erector launchers (TELs), space rocket stages and fighter jets.

The plane’s arrival in Pyongyang came just days after leader Kim Jong Un conducted the country’s first ballistic missile test in two months, launching six units of a 600mm long-range multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at the same time. 

This weapon has not yet shown up in Ukraine, though experts have identified other recently developed North Korean SRBMs from the Hwasong-11 series (KN-23) in use by Russia.

Planet Labs satellite imagery shows North Korea’s two operational Il-76 cargo planes were active on March 20 and 21 as well, though public trackers did not capture any flights.

One was moved away from its typical parking apron at Pyongyang International Airport to near the runway on the morning of March 20. The following morning, hours after the two Russian planes departed, the other was gone with a white material covering its parking spot in an unusual fashion, indicating it was either in a repair hangar or on a flight.

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The Tu-154 (RA-85843) that flew to Pyongyang just before the cargo plane last week made another trip to the DPRK capital after 12 p.m. the next day on March 22 and flew back to Vladivostok a couple of hours later, Flightradar24 data shows. 

This was around the same time a Russian delegation led by Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the Far East region of Primorsky Krai, reportedly left Pyongyang, though DPRK state TV showed him leaving on an Air Koryo Il-62 (tail number P-885).

The same Russian Tu-154 made undisclosed trips from Vladivostok to Pyongyang on the morning of March 2 and March 7 as well, according to Flightradar24.

A Russian cargo plane previously accused of transporting weapons also made an unusual detour flight on March 11 from Shanghai to Pyongyang before heading back to Moscow via Tianjin.

Russian military and government planes have made numerous undisclosed trips to North Korea since last fall amid evidence of active weapons trade between the two countries.

A Russian Air Force Il-62 (tail number RA-86559) VIP passenger plane made a previously unreported trip to Pyongyang on Jan. 6, Flightradar24 data shows. 

NK News reported on the same plane making secret trips to the DPRK capital in August, September and November.

Russia and North Korea have appeared to try to hide alleged weapons transfers by ship that started last August, with vessels turning off their location transponders and discontinuing use of a naval port that helped tie the operation to the military.

It’s possible Russia has sent more planes to North Korea than have been detected in order to pick up weapons like SRBMs, while sending artillery shells via the maritime operation between the DPRK’s Rason Port and Russian ports up the coast. 

The British think tank RUSI released a report on Tuesday detailing alleged frequent Russian oil shipments to North Korea, positing that they are related to payments for DPRK weapons.

Russia helped pass U.N. Security Council sanctions that prohibit transfers of all weapons and even vehicles to North Korea in 2017. But Moscow has since called for lifting the measures, while leader Vladimir Putin openly violated sanctions last month by sending Kim Jong Un a luxury armored vehicle. 

Edited by Bryan Betts