This Friday, the United States government accused North Korea of delivering 1,000 containers with ammunition and general war material to Russia amid a prolonged war with Ukraine that has affected its arsenal and production capacity.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States believes North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is seeking Russian weapons technology to boost North Korea’s military and nuclear program. In exchange, it is supplying Putin with urgent war support.
In its report, the White House presented satellite images purportedly showing that a shipment from a munitions depot in the Asian country was loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship and then moved by rail to a warehouse near Russia’s southwestern border.
According to the official White House report, this delivery occurred between September 7 and October 1.
The US accusation comes a month after Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and visit some key military sites.
“We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian civilians and further Russia’s illegitimate war,” Kirby said. “In return for support, we assess that Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, or other materials and other advanced technologies.”
“This expanding military partnership between the DPRK and Russia, including any technology transfers from Russia to the DPRK, undermines regional stability and the global non-proliferation regime,” the American spokesman added. “We will not allow the DPRK to aid Russia’s war machine in secret. And the world should know about the support that Russia may again may provide the DPRK in return.”
