https://understandingwar.org/research/china-taiwan/korean-peninsula-update-j... Some NATO nations are suddenly realizing that the PRC is a threat to them AND they need to be involved with the U.S. in Asia. Its one-part defense, one part economic. This is part of what, I believe, will be a change in NATO from a purely defensive, European focus to a more global involvement. Trump’s successful push to get NATO to spend more on defense will enable some NATO countries with historic ties to Asia (France, U.K., Netherlands maybe) to look to the Pacific. They also see working with Asian nations as a way to find alternative suppliers for complex weapons (airplanes) to the U.S. in the hopes that the economics allow lower prices and more airframes. However, EU requirements for airplanes are at odds with those of Japan and Korea who need ships and airplanes with long legs. Marc Liebman https://www.marcliebman.com https://www.facebook.com/marcliebmanauthor/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_sDoFQM5wupNaCeGIvKL1g From: ISW Publications <publications@understandingwar.org> Reply-To: "press@understandingwar.org" <press@understandingwar.org> Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 1:50 PM To: Marc Liebman <marc@marcliebman.com> Subject: Korean Peninsula Update, July 14, 2026 Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) confirmed North Korea’s role in providing Russia with artillery for the war in Ukraine, including an estimated 25-40 percent of current Russian artillery ammuniti [https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=d60a8733-1040-463f-88b9-76c73c41cc6e&...] [https://files.constantcontact.com/c9ccf499301/fe53f48d-25ca-4a61-b995-bc898863eb75.jpg?rdr=true]<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_WNgQjOBIEloZhajaJRHMk24qVc4LE39aPeuQ0uV9WaeVF3zWIBx9dACILNSuHhQgeiV5CE_WmtibA9F4ajc8IYpheGNbRsr6nry6wllSR1fQ7bTqNjYhxjvIyiJ8ROtb1MqyzwMs8c2CtAIWxQsYVxw5qxpx16HYlQq3GEG6w3p&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> July 14, 2026 Data Cutoff: July 13, 2026 Daniel Shats, Alfred Han, Alison O’Neil, Karina Wugang, and Ellie Kim of the Institute for the Study of War and Julia Irvin of the American Enterprise Institute TOPLINES Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) confirmed North Korea’s role in providing Russia with artillery for the war in Ukraine, including an estimated 25-40 percent of current Russian artillery ammunition. North Korea has supplied more than 600 artillery systems of different types and calibers to Russia, including M-1989 Koksan 170mm self-propelled guns, M-1991 240mm multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), 107mm Type 63 rocket launchers, self-propelled anti-tank missile systems, D-74 122mm towed guns, and Type 76 140mm mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, and artillery shells. North Korea has also provided more than 100 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia, which has used at least 80 of these missiles. HUR frames these weapons deliveries as “systemic” in their scale and regularity, with North Korea occupying a “key position” among Russia’s foreign weapons and equipment suppliers. North Korean weapons provisions to Russia reportedly totaled over 9 million 12mm and 152mm artillery rounds by the end of 2024, 12 million 152mm artillery shells by July 2025, and an estimated 15 million 152mm artillery shells by March 2026. Russia’s reliance on North Korean artillery munitions is increasing as of July 2025, with six Russian artillery units sourcing 50 to 100 percent of their munitions from North Korea. The latest HUR reports do not clearly represent an increase in North Korean weapons provisions, however. HUR estimates that North Korea can produce 1 to 2 million artillery shells per year and could supply a “significant portion” of the shells to Russia depending on North Korea’s political decision-making. North Korea has reaped significant economic benefit from these arms sales, despite international sanctions, with its economy estimated to have grown 3.7 percent in 2024, a trend likely to continue. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is continuing to expand South Korea’s cooperation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members and taking a role in the global defense industry. North Korea blames South Korea, Japan, the United States, and NATO for weaponizing nuclear capabilities, which North Korea views as essential to its defense. Lee stated at the July 7 NATO summit that South Korea and NATO must evolve their relationship into the “Korea-NATO Defense Industry Partnership 2.0,” which would include joint defense research, production, and operational capabilities. South Korean National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac announced that Seoul and NATO had initiated negotiations to establish a baseline procurement agreement following Lee’s meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that same day. Wi clarified that this agreement will not impact South Korea’s relationship with either the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or Russia, however. Lee also discussed military shipbuilding with US President Donald Trump. Lee revealed on June 19 that Trump inquired about South Korea constructing 10 US naval vessels at the G7 Summit in June. Seoul and Washington agreed to expand shipbuilding cooperation during bilateral tariff negotiations in 2025, and the Lee administration and South Korean shipbuilding companies are reportedly preparing a $150 billion fund dedicated to such cooperation with the United States. The US Department of Defense and the US Navy recently issued Requests for Information (RFI) on manufacturing capabilities to three major South Korean shipbuilders, including Hanwha Ocean, which purchased the Philadelphia Shipyard. READ THE FULL UPDATE<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_WvUcfShxsyTu3vaaG_3Gsunohh-updU_mH0GsakpRaZ6y4md3o-pgSzJZv7Up8obqlnc9dGcn8JxZ8dRbWNvrNXk3llqKcl2t60pImmKdmNNx-2r5qaTSsNjm7ab9RngQ==&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> [https://files.constantcontact.com/c9ccf499301/a60ab131-556f-4334-bdd0-0c2a11617f20.jpg?rdr=true]<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_SM_3MzcgksG1d4UKnaTYcQ9mw9AC5m8hvNEb7Uq54mkCgL-hip6MQ-4dcLKWbxHqyrB0kOdMhjOs-a2aX0SOTEu8rV5j0gxSRA7rlLVAGgpnep7dyCLeWfOta9chdMlS2wSX_U7g9Uh_O6CSYG6svw=&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> KEY TAKEAWAYS · North Korean Military Sales to Russia: Ukrainian intelligence confirmed that North Korea is contributing a significant amount of artillery to Russia for the war in Ukraine. North Korea has supplied Russia with hundreds of artillery systems and currently provides an estimated 25 to 40 percent of Russian artillery ammunition. · South Korea-NATO Relations: South Korea is working to expand its relations with NATO member states and enhance its role in the global defense industry. These efforts are continuing despite North Korea’s condemnations of South Korea-NATO relations and calls for denuclearization. CONTINUE READING<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_WvUcfShxsyTu3vaaG_3Gsunohh-updU_mH0GsakpRaZ6y4md3o-pgSzJZv7Up8obqlnc9dGcn8JxZ8dRbWNvrNXk3llqKcl2t60pImmKdmNNx-2r5qaTSvkM9jO-2PZDA==&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> [https://files.constantcontact.com/c9ccf499301/d72c0029-c5bd-4b0c-ac90-4c27ed24ec2c.png?rdr=true]<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_WvUcfShxsyTHVRJGdFZ51CJKQny65kD5TwPISKJBWDUzc6qA5VnUjk4aNAcy-Fm1_gIVQvCZSqdJ25YOt8x6mZ8gE6CRjYzvqoIS841PvlNZoR3N1r5HiZ9ypr9zBpN9k3cE12bUIN2CSk8jwpY_EHcJQniRJSRl7TACkrjtGC-&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> [https://files.constantcontact.com/c9ccf499301/c639cd41-8013-4596-aede-243cb0c3dc44.png?rdr=true]<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_TR2rgCHr8ADymkzczLunH0nGN6nJTt3JRqefzu-6wX8lfisNKuilT85x6fuZC05wREINhWBgHV2wJgnoiuWKCJgGSx4cIQRQa2A1l3ewIi30o5AOIo4JOpxvHnqKPOdJt1-QWv_fTqqke-QpyTeU2xVynDAvLKLl1pJjx02QjuO6hCXrkSmgWooNDLHwx8E4QMe0nA_9_8ZT41CXW-zWWAZYtbAaILtoJ8Lv-gkFk3jUhWV6C9fa6ufzSb-BI80Lg==&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> DONATE<https://7et4umoab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001ihVSeP6uWm2fTohwxhsxtp8vxwfxDeun193e0F1FZWSpbdWpBbKH_TR2rgCHr8ADymkzczLunH0nGN6nJTt3JRqefzu-6wX8lfisNKuilT85x6fuZC05wREINhWBgHV2wJgnoiuWKCJgGSx4cIQRQa2A1l3ewIi30o5AOIo4JOpxvHnqKPOdJt1-QWv_fTqqke-QpyTeU2xVynDAvLKLl1pJjx02QjuO6hCXrkSmgWooNDLHwx8E4QMe0nA_9_8ZT41CXW-zWWAZYtbAaILtoJ8Lv-gkFk3jUhWV6C9fa6vHR3PHLcrbyA==&c=YFK-yZfJo4Uzh_eI2svK9qBiJA7IqXmEs8GWtmeLvLoOG4ELQtjAOg==&ch=V9HAxFtYAwjI_hZE1FOhnMR1w3kHkjUC95F56rrOaiLQPo7cDFTmxQ==> ISW takes no US or foreign government funding. 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