North Korea is in the final stages of preparations for the launch of a spy satellite, according to South Korea's intelligence service.
North Korea is in the final stages of preparations for the launch of a spy satellite and the chances of the third attempt succeeding are high, South Korea's intelligence service says in a briefing.
North Korea has also sent more than 10 shipments of munitions to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, including over one million artillery rounds, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was quoted as saying.
That is roughly the supply of munitions that Russia expends in its war with Ukraine in two months, a member of the parliament committee, Yoo Sang-bum, was quoted as saying.
The NIS made the report in a closed-door parliament intelligence committee session, local media reported, citing a committee member who was in attendance.
The shipments were made by vessels moving between a North Korean east coast port and Russian ports, as the United States previously reported, as well as by air out of North Korea, the spy agency said.
"North Korea is running its munition factories to full capacity to meet demand for military supplies to Russia and even mobilising residents and civilian factories to make ammunition boxes for exports," Yoo told reporters, citing the NIS report.
North Korea has made two attempts to launch its first reconnaissance satellite this year that ended in failure as stages of the boosters experienced malfunctions.
The launch is part of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's push to bolster its military capabilities that also include long-range ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines and hypersonic missiles.
North Korea appears to have received technical assistance from Russia and is likely checking the launch vehicle's engine and launch mechanism, Yoo cited NIS as saying, but added that it did not provide further details due to security reasons.
The North had previously pledged to make a third attempt in October, but has so far shown no indication that it was going ahead with the launch.
Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September in Russia's far east where he toured Russia's modern space launch station, fuelling speculation that Moscow would help with his space program in return for supply of conventional weapons.
While hosting Kim, Putin said Russia would help North Korea build satellites, without providing specifics.
South Korea, Japan and the United States have condemned the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia, laying out what they said was evidence that confirmed deliveries of such shipments.
"North Korea is also seen to be trying to use the Israel-Hamas war in a multifaceted way," Yoo was quoted as saying after the spy agency briefing.
"Indications of Kim Jong Un's order to look for ways to comprehensively support the Palestinians have been obtained," added Yoo, who could not immediately be reached for comment.
North Korea has denied it was supplying arms to Russia and has also dismissed reports by some military experts that its arms were being used by Hamas militants in the fighting against Israel.
The spy agency also said North Korea dispatched a delegation that mainly consists of experts on artillery to Russia in mid-October, news reports said.
"North Korea is also seen to be trying to use the Israel-Hamas war in a multifaceted way," Yoo said after the briefing. "Indications of Kim Jong-un's order to look for ways to comprehensively support the Palestinians have been obtained."
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