Analysts believe Pyongyang is looking to cash in on arms sales to counter international sanctions.
Russia can purchase “literally millions” of artillery shells and missiles in North Korea, the White House said, calling it further evidence of Moscow's “desperation” amid supply shortages for its war against Ukraine. This is reported by Reuters.
Russia's representative at the UN, Vasiliy Nebenzia, previously denied information from the New York Times, which referred to recently declassified US intelligence data that Russia had already purchased weapons from North Korea.
“I haven't heard of it, and I think it's another fake that's being spread,” he told reporters.
Deputy spokesman for the US State Department, Vedant Patel, said that Russia “is in the process of purchasing millions of missiles and artillery shells from North Korea for use in Ukraine”.
However, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that currently “there is no indication that this purchase has been completed, and certainly no indication that these weapons are being used against Ukraine.”
Kirby called it a “potential purchase.”
“We believe that it (the purchase – ed.) may include literally millions of missiles and artillery shells from North Korea. That's what our information gives us — it could be of that magnitude,” he added.
“We don't have any indication yet that a purchase has actually taken place, so it's hard to say what it will actually look like. “, Kirby said.
He also noted that this is “just another indication of how desperate Putin is becoming… It's an indication of how much his defense industrial complex is suffering as a result of this war, and the extent despair”.
US representatives said that additional purchases of military equipment by Russia from North Korea are expected.
Ukrainian troops attacked Russian ammunition depots. Officials said Western sanctions are limiting Russia's ability to replace vehicles and weapons destroyed in Ukraine.
Analysts believe Pyongyang is seeking cash from arms sales to counter international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile programs. .
Vedant Patel added that the Russian purchases would violate UN sanctions that prohibit UN member states from buying weapons from North Korea.
“It is particularly worrying that a permanent member of the Security Council is flouting these measures,” he said, referring to Russia.
Alastair Morgan, Britain's ambassador to North Korea from 2015 to 2018, who was also the coordinator of the UN Group of Experts monitoring compliance with sanctions against North Korea, said he had no information to verify data on Russian purchases.
“If it was possible, I'm absolutely sure (North Korea) would sell weapons to whoever would take them,” he added.
Morgan noted that Pyongyang has repeatedly expressed support for Russia and clearly wants to stay on good terms with Moscow as well as China, so these countries will continue to block any further UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.
Analyst Jenny Town of the North Korea monitoring project 38 North said the information was “very credible” following recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un promising to deepen cooperation.
North Korean media last month Putin was quoted as telling Kim Jong-un that their countries would expand “comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations,” while the North Korean leader noted that bilateral “strategic and tactical cooperation, support and solidarity” had reached a new level in a joint effort to weaken the enemy's military forces .
Read also: The lack of weapons forces Russia to buy missiles and artillery in North Korea – American intelligence
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