Intelligence reports suggest North Korea supplied Belarus with missile launcher components in exchange for thousands of tons of meat late last year. This exchange underscores the growing economic and military cooperation between the two nations, both known allies of Russia.
On February 7, NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet focusing on North Korean affairs, reported this information, citing the Belarusian independent news source Zerkalo. The report detailed that Belarusian beef, chicken legs, canned meats, and offal valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars were transported to North Korea via rail in late 2022.
The transaction was facilitated by Zendia, a Polish limited liability company, which purchased the goods from Belarus and forwarded them to North Korea. Experts characterize this as a classic example of circumventing sanctions through third-party intermediaries.
In recent years, Pyongyang and Minsk have been actively strengthening their bilateral ties. A notable example of this was Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov’s visit to Pyongyang in July last year, followed by Choe Son-hui’s reciprocal visit to Belarus in October for high-level talks.
During a trip to Beijing for China’s Victory Day celebrations in September, Kim Jong Un met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, extending an invitation for the latter to visit Pyongyang.
Intelligence analysts speculate that North Korea may be providing critical military supplies to Belarus. A recent report from the security analysis firm Dallas Park Project revealed that North Korea has been supplying automotive parts to a Belarusian manufacturer of Transporter Erector Launchers (TELs) for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The components reportedly include precision steering systems, electronic control modules, and polyurethane hoses.
These actions clearly violate United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions 2397 and 2375. There are growing concerns that North Korea and Belarus will continue to trade various military and transportation-related materials, attempting to circumvent international sanctions.