Russian cargo ship implicated in arms smuggling returns to North Korean port



News Russian cargo ship implicated in arms smuggling returns to North Korean port Lady R’s visit to Rason comes as signs of DPRK weapons in Ukraine war continue to emerge despite slowdown in port calls Anton Sokolin June 26, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON The Lady R cargo vessel at Simons Town Naval Base in South Africa on Dec. 9, 2022 \| Image: Limewrite via Wikimedia Commons (Dec. 9, 2022) A Russian cargo ship at the center of arms smuggling operations for the Ukraine war docked at the North Korea port of Rason this week, NK Pro analysis shows, suggesting that the two countries’ clandestine weapons trade continues unabated. The vessel closely matching the hull parameters of the Lady R roll-on/roll-off cargo ship docked at the northeast border city on June 23-24, three weeks after its last observed visit on June 1, Planet Labs satellite imagery shows. Rason has been a key hub for DPRK arms shipments to Russia since Aug. 2023, but the latest visit Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01How unsustainable wildlife trade threatens North Korea’s biodiversity 02Opening event imminent for North Korea’s Wonsan Kalma mega beach resort: Imagery 03North Korea dismantles inter-Korean reunions hotel despite Lee’s engagement push 04What Kim Jong Un is learning from Israel’s offensive as Tehran burns 05Trump lifted sanctions on Syria. But that playbook won’t work for North Korea. 06Why Kim Jong Un’s latest military reshuffle wasn’t tied to warship launch mishap 07High rollers: How North Korea could exploit casinos to finance nuclear weapons 08North Korea’s damaged warship begins repairs near port hosting Russia arms trade

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Russian cargo ship implicated in arms smuggling returns to North Korean port

Lady R’s visit to Rason comes as signs of DPRK weapons in Ukraine war continue to emerge despite slowdown in port calls

Anton Sokolin June 26, 2025

Russian cargo ship implicated in arms smuggling returns to North Korean port

The Lady R cargo vessel at Simons Town Naval Base in South Africa on Dec. 9, 2022 | Image: Limewrite via Wikimedia Commons (Dec. 9, 2022)

A Russian cargo ship at the center of arms smuggling operations for the Ukraine war docked at the North Korea port of Rason this week, NK Pro analysis shows, suggesting that the two countries’ clandestine weapons trade continues unabated.

The vessel closely matching the hull parameters of the Lady R roll-on/roll-off cargo ship docked at the northeast border city on June 23-24, three weeks after its last observed visit on June 1, Planet Labs satellite imagery shows.

Rason has been a key hub for DPRK arms shipments to Russia since Aug. 2023, but the latest visit

01How unsustainable wildlife trade threatens North Korea’s biodiversity
02Opening event imminent for North Korea’s Wonsan Kalma mega beach resort: Imagery
03North Korea dismantles inter-Korean reunions hotel despite Lee’s engagement push
04What Kim Jong Un is learning from Israel’s offensive as Tehran burns
05Trump lifted sanctions on Syria. But that playbook won’t work for North Korea.
06Why Kim Jong Un’s latest military reshuffle wasn’t tied to warship launch mishap
07High rollers: How North Korea could exploit casinos to finance nuclear weapons
08North Korea’s damaged warship begins repairs near port hosting Russia arms trade

Russian cargo ship implicated in arms smuggling returns to North Korean port

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Anton Sokolin