Russian cargo ship visits North Korea weapons port for first time in 2 months



Investigations Russian cargo ship visits North Korea weapons port for first time in 2 months Suspected maritime weapons trade resumes after pause, though rail link may have kept flow going Colin Zwirko October 2, 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 that has been sanctioned for facilitating illicit weapons trade with North Korea appeared at a northeastern DPRK port this week for the first time in two months, likely as part of ongoing arms shipments. According to NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery, the Lady R cargo ship dropped off shipping containers at Rason Port on Wednesday, after appearing to prepare for the shipment at Russia’s Vostochny Port from Sept. 24 to 26. The vessel is likely to move to an adjacent pier at Rason on Thursday to pick up shipping 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 01Inside North and South Korea’s quiet battle for dominance in electronic warfare 02How North Korea will fight back against the South’s nuclear submarine plans 03Cold shoulder: Why Kim Jong Un shunned his chance to reunite with Trump 04The US has adapted to new nuclear powers before. It can again with North Korea. 05Working for the man: How North Korea exerts absolute control over laborers 06Where North Korea-China ties are headed after a flurry of high-level diplomacy 07Why North Korea is signaling that it no longer wants UN humanitarian aid 08Border guards and gun-toting kids: Record numbers marched in North Korean parade 09Infographic: North Korea’s smallest military parade in years still packs a punch 10What to make of the Hwasong-20, North Korea’s puzzling new nuclear missile

Investigations

Russian cargo ship visits North Korea weapons port for first time in 2 months

Suspected maritime weapons trade resumes after pause, though rail link may have kept flow going

Colin Zwirko October 2, 2025

Russian cargo ship visits North Korea weapons port for first time in 2 months

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 that has been sanctioned for facilitating illicit weapons trade with North Korea appeared at a northeastern DPRK port this week for the first time in two months, likely as part of ongoing arms shipments.

According to NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs satellite imagery, the Lady R cargo ship dropped off shipping containers at Rason Port on Wednesday, after appearing to prepare for the shipment at Russia’s Vostochny Port from Sept. 24 to 26.

The vessel is likely to move to an adjacent pier at Rason on Thursday to pick up shipping

01Inside North and South Korea’s quiet battle for dominance in electronic warfare
02How North Korea will fight back against the South’s nuclear submarine plans
03Cold shoulder: Why Kim Jong Un shunned his chance to reunite with Trump
04The US has adapted to new nuclear powers before. It can again with North Korea.
05Working for the man: How North Korea exerts absolute control over laborers
06Where North Korea-China ties are headed after a flurry of high-level diplomacy
07Why North Korea is signaling that it no longer wants UN humanitarian aid
08Border guards and gun-toting kids: Record numbers marched in North Korean parade
09Infographic: North Korea’s smallest military parade in years still packs a punch
10What to make of the Hwasong-20, North Korea’s puzzling new nuclear missile

Russian cargo ship visits North Korea weapons port for first time in 2 months

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Colin Zwirko