
14,000 troops, 100 ballistic missiles and millions of munitions: What North Korea has sent to Russia, report finds
North Korea has sent soldiers and millions of munitions, including missiles and rockets, to Russia over the past year, according to a new report by an international watchdog, which details the extent to which Pyongyang has helped Moscow 'terrorize' Ukraine's population over its three-year war.
The report was released Thursday by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), an initiative made up of 11 United Nations members, formed after Russia forced the disbandment of a previous UN panel that monitored the implementation of sanctions against North Korea.
While some of the team's findings have been well documented – such as North Korea sending troops to fight for Russia – the report lays out the stunning scope and scale of weaponry sent from Pyongyang since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
That includes as many as 9 million rounds of artillery and ammunition in 2024; more than 11,000 troops last year, and another 3,000 troops in the early months of this year; rocket launchers, vehicles, self-propelled guns and other types of heavy artillery; and at least 100 ballistic missiles 'which were subsequently launched into Ukraine to destroy civilian infrastructure and terrorize populated areas such as Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia,' the report found, citing participating states.
'These forms of unlawful cooperation between (North Korea) and Russia contributed to Moscow's ability to increase its missile attacks against Ukrainian cities including targeted strikes against critical civilian infrastructure,' the report said.
In return, Russia provided North Korea with various valuable pieces of weaponry and technology, including air defense equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, electronic warfare systems and refined oil, the report said.
A news broadcast in Seoul, South Korea, showing a Russian military facility reportedly used as a training ground for North Korean troops sent to assist in the war against Ukraine.
Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/SIPAPRE/AP
Moscow has also provided data feedback on Pyongyang's ballistic missiles, helping improve its missile guidance performance, it said.
These actions 'allow North Korea to fund its military programs and further develop its ballistic missiles programs, which are themselves prohibited under multiple (UN Security Council resolutions), and gain first-hand experience in modern warfare,' the report found.
It said its findings were based on MSMT participating states and cited supporting evidence from the Open Source Centre (OSC), a UK-based non-profit that uses publicly accessible information for research, and Conflict Armament Research (CAR), a UK-based research organization.
Both Russia and North Korea are violating the UN arms embargo and are transferring arms and military equipment through actors and networks that evade sanctions, the report alleged. The two countries will likely continue their military cooperation 'at least for the foreseeable future,' it added.
In a joint statement, the member nations behind the MSMT – Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States – urged North Korea to 'engage in meaningful diplomacy.'
Western governments have become increasingly concerned about the long-term implications of what appears to be a deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
In recent months, the US has warned that Russia may be close to sharing advanced space and satellite technology with North Korea in exchange for continued support for the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged in April for the first time that North Korean soldiers took part in the fighting to recover Russian territory after Ukraine's incursion into the Kursk region last year. North Korea also confirmed its troop presence there for the first time in April.
Though North Korean troops had been deployed to Kursk since at least November, they withdrew from the front lines in January after reports of mass casualties, Ukrainian officials said.
Both countries have denied that Pyongyang is supplying arms to Moscow, despite overwhelming evidence. However, as part of a landmark defense pact struck last year, they have both pledged to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event the other is attacked.
Putin has warned he would provide arms to Pyongyang if the West continues arming Ukraine.
In recent weeks, Ukraine's allies have lifted a ban on Kyiv firing long-range missiles into Russia, after days of Russia bombarding the Ukrainian capital and other regions with massive aerial attacks and as the US grows increasingly frustrated with Putin over the lack of a peace deal.

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Mid East Info
21 minutes ago
- Mid East Info
UN HLPF 2025: GEEP, NYU Launch Global Ideation Lab to Explore New Prospects in International Cooperation and Government Innovation
H.E. Abdulla Lootah: The UAE's knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive. It leverages contributions across sectors, both locally and globally, while providing an environment for the creation of innovative ideas and impactful development solutions The Global Ideation Lab, co-hosted by GEEP and NYU, helps build a global sandbox for innovative ideas, provides a creative open space, and gathers thought leaders and policymakers from government, academia, and university students The Ideation Lab highlighted the developmental role of initiatives that support global partnerships, including the UAE's GEEP, which serves as an incubator for cross-border partnerships and an effective knowledge-sharing platform New York, USA – July, 2025: The Government Experience Exchange Programme GEEP, under the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, launched a Global Ideation Lab in collaboration with New York University (NYU). The Ideation Lab was held alongside the UAE delegation's participation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York City. It brought together leading experts, academics, UN officials, diplomats, policymakers, and university students to explore new prospects in government sector innovation and global cooperation. The session drew participation from 26 ministers, experts, academics, and UN officials, including Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships, and Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Attendees also included sustainability officials and diplomats from countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Paraguay, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Kingdom of Eswatini, and others. Members of the UAE delegation to the HLPF, officials from NYU's administrative and academic bodies, and 30 students from NYU, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania also participated. Global Ideas Sandbox: The Ideation Lab helps build a global ideas sandbox and provides a creative open space. It highlighted the developmental role of comprehensive initiatives supporting global partnerships, particularly the UAE's GEEP, which serves as an incubator for scalable cross-border partnerships and an effective knowledge sharing platform. UAE Commitment to Expanding Partnerships: His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the UAE's knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive, leveraging contributions across sectors locally and globally. This approach provides an environment for creating innovative ideas and impactful development solutions. 'In the UAE, we have successfully built a pioneering model for international cooperation based on knowledge exchange with countries and governments, and GEEP is a crucial part of this endeavor,' Lootah said. 'We are committed to involving various sectors, particularly academia, and cooperating with everyone in developing solutions to urgent global challenges, including developmental challenges, and expanding frameworks for sharing, transferring, and exchanging best government practices to help achieve sustainable development.' He added: 'The joint Global Ideation Lab between GEEP and NYU exemplifies the collaborative approach we adopt in the UAE to develop best practices that enhance readiness for present and future opportunities.' Challenge and Solution Model: The Global Ideation Lab adopted a collaborative approach between GEEP and NYU, centered on posing challenges, linking academic insights with practical governance, and involving various stakeholders in designing partnership-based and scalable solutions. The session outcomes contributed to aligning knowledge inputs with policy, empowering stakeholders to participate in developing innovative solutions to urgent governance challenges, and accelerating progress towards the 2030 SDGs. UN High-Level Political Forum: The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the UN's central platform for reviewing and advancing SDGs. Established in 2012, the forum plays a pivotal role in monitoring national and international progress on the 2030 Agenda. Participating delegations assess progress toward the SDGs, with this year's forum featuring in-depth reviews of five priority goals: SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages); SDG5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls); SDG8 (promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all); SDG14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG17 (strengthening and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).


Egypt Independent
3 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
A prominent venture capitalist's Islamophobic posts stir outrage among Middle Eastern and Muslim tech founders
New York — Some Muslim and Middle Eastern tech founders and leaders are among people protesting a Some Muslim and Middle Eastern tech founders and leaders are among people protesting a prominent venture capitalist's recent comments blasting New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. They say when Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire called Mamdani an 'Islamist' who 'comes from a culture that lies about everything' earlier this month, it shined a light on what they say is pervasive Islamophobia in their industry. Maguire earlier this month made those statements – which had 5.6 million views on X, as of July 23 – in reaction to a New York Times report that Mamdani marked his ethnicity as both 'Asian' and 'Black or African American' on his 2009 application to Columbia University. Maguire has since continued to double down on social media, posting that Mamdani defends terrorists, raising inflammatory claims about his father, and claiming that both of them are 'so excited' for a third Intifada. CNN has reached out to Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran Mamdani's father. Maguire's initial remarks on July 4 immediately drew backlash from the tech community as well as supporters of Mamdani. More than 1,100 people have signed an open letter to Sequoia on July 9 condemning Maguire's comments and demanding the venture capital firm apologize and take disciplinary action against him. The signatories list includes the names of startup founders and other business figures across the world, although CNN could not independently verify the signatures. Shaun Maguire, a partner at venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, has drawn backlash for his social media posts about New York mayoral candidate Zohran 137 Ventures/Fo Maguire's comments 'struck a chord with a lot of people, just because of the fact that he wasn't at some no-name shop. It was Sequoia,' said Hosam Arab, co-founder and CEO of Gulf fintech company Tabby, who signed the letter about Maguire. Arab's company raised money from Sequoia Capital's India business before Sequoia split off that arm of its business in 2024. Maguire is not the only one in the VC space to hold those views, but 'he was probably the loudest, most vocal, most consistent,' added Arab. When asked for comment, Maguire directed CNN to a 30-minute follow-up video in which he said that Islamists only made up a small fraction of Muslims and that he was 'very, very sorry' to any Indians or Muslims who aren't Islamists. 'This tweet did not land the way I thought it would. What I was trying to do is associate Zohran with an ideology that I think he has that is beyond just socialism,' he said. Sequoia has not responded to CNN's requests for comment. Mamdani, who would be the city's first Muslim mayor if elected, did not respond to requests for comment. Muslim and Middle East founders respond Sequoia Capital is one of the most esteemed venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, managing around $56 billion in assets as of January. Founded in 1972, it has a remarkable track record of early investments in globally successful companies including Apple, Google, Nvidia and many, many more. Sequoia Capital offices in Menlo Park, California. It is one of the most esteemed venture capital firms in Silicon Valley, Bloomberg/Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Although New York is far from Silicon Valley and even farther from the Middle East, startup founders in the Middle East have condemned Maguire's comments. The Middle East has become more and more intertwined with the global investing stage, especially with the deep pockets of sovereign wealth funds and family offices. Many companies in the region received funding from Sequoia's India branch, which had its own fund, though that was spun off last year. For example, Sequoia India made a $33 million investment in Saudi fintech Lean Technologies in 2022, and Egyptian consumer money app Telda also received seed funding from the firm. By contacting Sequoia's limited partners, the letter's supporters may try to hit the venture firm where it hurts: its purse strings. In an update to the letter, the signatories said if Sequoia did not publicly condemn Maguire's remarks and launch an internal investigation into Maguire's conduct over the past two years, their next steps would be to contact Sequoia's limited partners – passive investors who provide capital to a fund but aren't involved in managing or decision-making. One Middle Eastern founder confirmed they are reaching out to wealthy family offices and sovereign wealth funds, though Sequoia has not shared exactly what percentage of its reserves come from these funds. 'As founders building the future of technology, we cannot accept leadership from a firm whose partners engage in hate speech and spread bigotry,' the original letter said. In theory, startup founders could also refuse to accept any money from Sequoia. But that may prove far-fetched, particularly for startups that typically need a wide variety of funding sources. So far there's been no public action from any partners, and it appears unlikely that any of the letter's signees will make a significant dent in Sequoia's bottom line. 'There are many idiots saying a lot of stupid things online. We don't care. We don't want to tell anybody what to say or not to say,' said one founder who signed the letter who didn't want to be named because of concerns about repercussions to their business and who doesn't receive money from Sequoia and instead receives funding from other international firms. 'We don't have a political horse in this, and we are not part of New York.' By saying nothing and not publicly responding to measures recommended in their letter, the founder said, it seems that Sequoia is essentially signing off on that rhetoric. 'Anything short of these measures signals tacit acceptance of anti-Muslim hate and racism,' the letter said. 'As the leading venture firm that shapes the future of technology and entrepreneurship globally, Sequoia's response will define whether you stand on the side of inclusion or on the side of complicity.' Islamophobia in the tech world Some of those Muslim and Middle East signees are criticizing Maguire's comments, and pointing out patterns in other major players in the finance and tech world who they say are Islamophobic and dehumanizing Palestinians, as Israel's war in Gaza has inflamed rhetoric toward Muslims and Arabs. 'He's clearly targeting certain Muslim figures, spending 30 minutes attempting to explain what his definition of Islam is,' one letter signee said, referencing Maguire's follow-up video. 'Come on, that should not be the stance of the premiere venture capital firm of the world.' There are 'people out there that genuinely have hatred towards our people in our community… what they say should not be just simply accepted as a matter of fact and part of our political discourse,' Abed Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told CNN. One founder, who signed the letter and wants to remain unnamed because of Maguire's threats toward his perceived 'enemies' on X, recalled how Sequoia had a reputation for investing in companies founded by immigrants, like Google's Sergey Brin, who was born in Moscow, and companies by other Indian immigrants. 'That's what we all as founders were looking up to – the American way of investing – which is kind of colorblind. And I think therefore this episode is even more shocking,' they said. Maguire has called video that appeared to show a dead child in Gaza a 'doll' on X, called the United Nations a 'terrorist organization' and reposted content from Laura Loomer, a right-wing activist who once described herself as a 'proud Islamophobe.' The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group, said in a letter that Maguire's posting history on X, including ones before July 4, 'reflects a dangerous pattern of anti-Muslim hate speech.' Smoke billoweseast of Gaza City following Israeli strikes on July 13. Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images The controversy comes in the shadow of Israel's war in Gaza, which people who signed the letter told CNN is the catalyst for a lot of Islamophobic rhetoric. Islamophobia has risen to 'alarming levels' across the world, including against Muslims, warned United Nations experts in March 2024. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in its 2025 civil rights report that Islamophobia remains at record levels in the US. The group received 8,658 complaints in 2024 — the highest number ever recorded since its first civil rights report in 1996. The open letter to Sequoia also has signatures from non-Muslim Arabs and founders based in the United States. On July 9, Maguire posted to his 'enemies' that he is aware of their 'command structure' and that he is 'going to play nice for now, but am ready to embarrass any of you should you escalate.' Attacks on Mamdani Mamdani has come under fire from opponents for his stance on the Israel-Gaza war. Mamdani, for example, refused to condemn the phrase 'globalize the intifada,' during his primary campaign, saying although he would not use the phrase himself, he believes it's a rallying cry for Palestinian human rights. However, he recently told a group of New York City business leaders he would discourage use of the phrase, CNN reported Wednesday. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks in New York on July 10. Jeenah Moon/Reuters/File On the campaign trail, Mamdani has expressed the impact of Islamophobic attacks and has said frequently there is no room for anti-Semitism in New York. 'I get messages that say the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim,' Mamdani said in June, adding that he is characterized by rivals 'as being a monster' with 'language that describes almost a barbarian looking to dismantle a civilization.' Still, Maguire has received some public support. On July 10, less than a week after Maguire's initial post, another Sequoia partner posted a lengthy statement in support of Maguire. 'Shaun is one of the few people with the courage and mental acuity to wade into these incredibly complex waters and attempt to provide clarity, fully knowing that the slightest misstatement will cause the extremists to pounce,' Pat Grady said. However, he also reiterated that he does 'not agree with everything my partners say' and that he supports the Muslim community. At the same time, another letter signed by prominent tech leaders defends Maguire against the backlash, this one with more than 1,400 signees. 'Whether one agrees with his views or not, his words were not hate speech – they were the reflections of a principled thinker and a partner to countless founders who span geographies, faiths, and political beliefs,' the letter said, adding the undersigned 'stand against ideological bullying.'


Egypt Independent
3 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Russia and Ukraine agree prisoner swap, but little other progress in Istanbul talks
Russia and Ukraine agreed a prisoner swap during their third set of direct talks in Istanbul on Wednesday, but appeared to make little progress on ceasefire terms or a possible summit between their presidents – with their meeting ending after less than an hour. The meeting came days after US President Donald Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to make peace or face 'very severe tariffs.' Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly acknowledged Trump's ultimatum, and Moscow has continued to pummel Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles while its ground troops grind forward in the east. Speaking after Wednesday's meeting, Ukraine's former defense minister Rustem Umerov – who led Kyiv's delegation – said he had proposed a summit by the end of August between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin and suggested the 'participation of (US) President Trump and (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan will be most valuable.' However, Russia's delegate Vladimir Medinsky, a former culture minister and now a senior Putin aide, said such a meeting would be appropriate only to sign an agreement, Reuters reported. The two sides also remained at odds over the terms of any possible ceasefire, with Umerov saying Ukraine was seeking a 'full and unconditional ceasefire as a necessary basis for effective diplomacy,' while Russia called for a series of short ceasefires of between 24 and 48 hours, on the front line, to allow medical teams to pick up dead and wounded soldiers. The two sides did appear to find some common ground on prisoner exchanges, with Medinksy telling a press conference after the meeting that an exchange of around 250 Russian and 250 Ukrainian prisoners of war was being completed along the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. Medinsky said the two sides had also agreed 'that in the near future an exchange of at least 1,200 more prisoners of war from each side will be carried out.' The two previous rounds of talks in Istanbul, in May and June, helped facilitate the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers, but also made little progress toward peace. In a message on Telegram on Wednesday, Zelensky said more than 1,000 Ukrainians had now been returned through 'all the stages of the recent Istanbul agreements.' 'Bringing all our people back is a priority for the state,' he said, 'And we will continue all efforts to ensure that all our people return from captivity.' Expectations were low before Wednesday's talks, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stressing that the two sides' negotiating positions remain 'diametrically opposed' and telling reports not to expect 'any miraculous breakthroughs.' Mounting casualties Last month, Russian casualties hit a grim milestone, with the UK's Ministry of Defence estimating that Putin's war has likely cost Russia more than 1 million casualties since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. That number tracked with an assessment the same month from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, DC, which put the number of casualties at 950,000 and predicted that 'Russia will likely hit the 1 million casualty mark in the summer of 2025.' Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's former defense minister, is heading Kyiv's delegation. Leonhard Foeger/Reuters Despite those losses, the Russian president has shown little sign of compromising on his maximalist war aim of dismantling Ukraine's sovereignty. In a long essay published months before the full-scale invasion, Putin falsely argued that Russia and Ukraine are one country; his comments suggesting to many that the war has been waged to make that a reality. In addition to Trump's fresh threat of new sanctions on Russia and other countries that purchase Russian oil if peace isn't reached in 50 days, the US also secured a deal to funnel new weapons to Kyiv through European allies. The moves were in stark contrast with previous approaches the US leader has taken with the conflict. Trump's reversal came after the European Union unveiled a new package of sanctions proposing to lower the price cap on Russian oil exports and introducing a full transaction ban on Russian banks and financial institutions in third countries that help Russia dodge existing sanctions. It is unclear whether Trump's latest decisions will sway Moscow's approach, but his about-face could provide a much-needed boost to Ukraine's military coffers, and signals his growing frustration with Putin. 'My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night,' Trump explained last week. Before the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for a direct meeting with Putin, saying only a meeting of the two leaders can end the war.