Surge in rail traffic on North Korea-Russia border suggests arms supply to Russia, think tank says

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A U.S. think tank says recent satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia.

Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, made the assessment on Friday.

It says satellite images as of Thursday captured “a dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic” at the Tumangang Rail Facility on the border.

Speculation about a possible North Korean plan to refill Russia’s drained arms inventory flared last month, when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin.