![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/10/25/15/SEI176443586.jpg?width=1200&auto=webp)
Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Ukraine mail depot that killed six
North Korea has shipped over 1,000 containers of military equipment to Russia, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
“If North Korea sustains the recent scale and pace of military-related shipments (more than 1,000 containers over the last several weeks), it will be on course to become one of Russia’s most significant foreign arms suppliers, alongside Iran and Belarus,” it said.
It comes after Vladimir Putin tested Russia’s ability to launch a massive retaliatory nuclear strike as he pulled the country out of an international test ban treaty.
“Practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles took place during the training,” Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said.
A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was fired in Russia’s far east, a nuclear-powered submarine launched a ballistic missile from the Barents sea, and long-range bombers test fired air-launched cruise missiles, according to the Kremlin.
On Wednesday, Russia’s parliament unanimously approved legislation pulling the country out of the international Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, designed to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapon testing.