South Korea sees evidence of arms trade between North Korea and Hamas South Korea sees evidence of arms trade between North Korea and Hamas

According to media reports, the South Korean secret service has evidence of the possible use of North Korean weapons by the Islamist Hamas.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has published a photo of a North Korean-made F-7 rocket-propelled grenade used by the Palestinian militant organization, South Korean newspaper Joongang Ilbo reported on Tuesday. The markings on the detonator are therefore in Korean.

There have been reports for some time about a possible arms trade between Hamas and the one-party state of leader Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang denied that North Korean weapons were used in the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas and other extremist groups. The attack led to the Gaza War.

The NOS presented photos of a dismantled bazooka on Monday and at the same time confirmed reports from American media about possible arms deliveries from North Korea to Hamas. It said concrete evidence was being gathered on the size and timing of North Korean arms shipments. However, no further information could be provided as informants would have to be protected and diplomatic relations would have to be taken into account.

The Voice of America (VOA) reported last week that it had received the photos of the North Korean bazooka through diplomatic channels. UN resolutions would ban North Korea from arms exports. According to VOA, Israeli forces have seized North Korean weapons in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack.

According to the US government, Pyongyang recently delivered rocket launchers and several ballistic missiles to Russia. North Korean missiles would also be used in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. (saw/sda/dpa)