The United States accused Russia on Thursday of using missiles supplied by North Korea to attack Ukraine, establishing a “consequent and worrying escalation” of Pyongyang’s support for Moscow.
“Our information indicates that North Korea has recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launch systems and multiple ballistic missiles,” said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Some of these missiles were later used, on December 30 and January 2, in Russian attacks against Ukraine, the spokesman said, noting that Russia is also seeking short-range missiles from Iran to replenish its supply. stock of weapons in the war against the neighboring country.
John Kirby said the deal between Moscow and Tehran has not been completed, but that the United States “is concerned that Russia’s negotiations to acquire short-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively moving forward.”
US President Joe Biden’s administration has argued that the Kremlin has become dependent on North Korea and Iran, which already provide Moscow with drones Shahed, to obtain the weapons he needs to wage his war against Ukraine and has now released intelligence findings that he claims prove this claim.
North Korea and Iran are largely isolated on the international stage and are subject to widespread sanctions due to their nuclear programs and human rights records.
The White House said in October that North Korea had delivered more than a thousand containers of military equipment and ammunition to Moscow, following a visit the previous month by North Korean President Kim Jong Un to Russia, where he was received with high state honors by his counterpart. Vladimir Putin.
The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 by Russia in Ukraine caused, according to the most recent UN data, the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by most of the international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing duties on Russia. political and economic. sanctions.
Source: TSF
