[Goose]

What does it say that Russia is buying arms from North Korea?

BC

It says they aren't stupid. N. Korea uses the same weapons and has stockpiled millions of shells, just as Russia did. Unlike Russia, N. Korea is still building this stuff full speed. Their stuff isn't past the "use by" date that Russia has to worry about with their massive stockpile of Soviet era weapons. While I am not so sure I would trust N. Korean QA, it may be safer than using 40 year old shells.

Doesn’t it just say that China is supplying Russia but wants plausible deniability that it didn’t approve the sales?

Probably not. While China may be supplying Russia with material, N. Korea has 1.3 million people in the military, the vast majority in the army. The have LOTS of shells and continue to refresh their stockpiles. No reason for China to dirty their hands.

[Goose]

What does it say that Russia is buying arms from North Korea?

BC

It says they aren't stupid. N. Korea uses the same weapons and has stockpiled millions of shells, just as Russia did. Unlike Russia, N. Korea is still building this stuff full speed. Their stuff isn't past the "use by" date that Russia has to worry about with their massive stockpile of Soviet era weapons. While I am not so sure I would trust N. Korean QA, it may be safer than using 40 year old shells.

Doesn’t it just say that China is supplying Russia but wants plausible deniability that it didn’t approve the sales?

Probably not. While China may be supplying Russia with material, N. Korea has 1.3 million people in the military, the vast majority in the army. The have LOTS of shells and continue to refresh their stockpiles. No reason for China to dirty their hands.