However, Pyongyang denies selling weapons to these militants.
The video was analyzed by two North Korean weapons experts. Combined with an Associated Press analysis of weapons seized by Israeli soldiers on the battlefield and South Korean military intelligence, the video suggests Hamas was using an F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, which the militants typically use against armored personnel carriers.
The evidence sheds light on the world of illicit arms supplies that sanctions-hit North Korea uses to fund its weapons programs.
Rocket-propelled grenade launchers fire one warhead at a time and can be quickly reloaded, making them a valuable weapon for guerrilla forces when engaging heavy vehicles.
According to NR Jenzen-Jones, a weapons expert and director of the consultancy Armament Research Services, the F-7 has been used in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
“North Korea has a long history of supporting Palestinian militant groups, and North Korean weapons have previously been caught among prohibited supplies,” he told the AP.
Hamas has released photos of its exercises showing fighters carrying a weapon with a rocket-propelled grenade with a distinctive red band across the warhead and other design elements consistent with the F-7, said Matt Schroeder, senior researcher at the Small Arms Survey. after writing a manual on Pyongyang’s small arms.
“It’s no wonder Hamas has North Korean weapons,” he said.
A video of the fighters reviewed by the AP shows one of them holding an F-7. Weapons seized by the Israeli military and shown to reporters also had a red band and other F-7 design elements.
Last week, Pyongyang, via its state news agency KCNA, dismissed claims that Hamas was using its weapons as baseless and false rumors initiated by the United States.
Previous Hamas propaganda videos and photos have shown fighters carrying North Korean Bulsae anti-tank missiles.
The West also suspects North Korea of supplying ammunition, artillery shells and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine. The White House said last week that Pyongyang had recently delivered more than 1,000 weapons to Moscow. containers with military equipment and ammunition.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday there was “no evidence” that North Korea was sending weapons to Russia, after Washington released photos of possible arms shipments from Pyongyang.
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#Hamas #North #Korean #weapons #attack #Israel
North Korea News
**Interview with NR Jenzen-Jones: An Expert on North Korean Arms Trafficking and Militant Groups**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, NR. Recent reports suggest that North Korea is allegedly providing weapons to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, despite Pyongyang’s denials. What can you tell us about the evidence surrounding these claims?
**NR Jenzen-Jones:** Thank you for having me. The situation is quite complex. The analysis of the evidence, including the video of Hamas militants using the F-7 rocket-propelled grenade, indicates a pattern we’ve seen before: North Korean arms make their way into conflict zones where groups like Hamas operate. The F-7 has a history of use across several hotspots in the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq.
**Interviewer:** What makes the F-7 grenade launcher particularly valuable for militant groups like Hamas?
**NR Jenzen-Jones:** The F-7 is advantageous due to its design—it fires a warhead at a time and can be reloaded quickly. This capability is crucial for guerrilla warfare tactics, especially when engaging armored personnel carriers and other heavy military vehicles. It allows for hit-and-run strategies that are effective in urban combat scenarios.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned in your analysis that North Korea has a longstanding history of supporting militant groups. Can you elaborate on that?
**NR Jenzen-Jones:** Certainly. North Korea has historically sought to extend its influence through various means, including arms sales, particularly to groups that align ideologically or politically against their common enemies, like the United States and its allies. This support is often veiled under denials, but evidence consistently shows that North Korean weapons have been found among prohibited supplies in several conflict zones.
**Interviewer:** What implications does this pattern of arms trafficking have for global security?
**NR Jenzen-Jones:** The implications are significant. North Korea’s arms smuggling operations not only help fund its nuclear ambitions but also destabilize regions by providing militant groups with advanced weaponry. This creates a more volatile security environment, as well-armed non-state actors can challenge national armies, leading to prolonged conflict and humanitarian crises.
**Interviewer:** what steps do you think the international community should take in response to these findings?
**NR Jenzen-Jones:** Firstly, stronger sanctions against North Korea are essential. Additionally, enhancing intelligence-sharing among nations can help track and disrupt these illicit arms networks. addressing the root causes of these conflicts, such as political grievances, will be vital in reducing reliance on arms from states like North Korea.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, NR Jenzen-Jones, for sharing your insights on this crucial issue.
**NR Jenzen-Jones:** Thank you for having me.
