Russia is sending a delegation to North Korea to offer food in exchange for weapons, US national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.
Kirby further stressed that any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would violate UN Security Council resolutions.
It is not the first time the US has accused North Korea of supplying weapons to the Russian army in Ukraine and the Wagner group of Russian mercenaries, which Pyongyang has denied. Kirby said the US is closely monitoring the situation and the alleged deal.
Also this Thursday, the White House revealed the identity of a Slovak man who allegedly brokered agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang.
John Kirby said the man, identified as Ashot Mkrtychev, 56, from Bratislava, had been working to broker arms sales and exchange deals between the two countries between late 2022 and early this year.
“With the support of Russian officials, Mkrtychev has attempted to broker a secret weapons deal between Russia and North Korea,” the US national security spokesman said.
At issue was the possibility that North Korea would send “more than two dozen” types of weapons and ammunition to Russia, according to the US Treasury Department, which has placed Mkrtychev’s name on its sanctions blacklist. In return, he added, Pyongyang could get cash, commercial jets, raw materials and raw materials.
Kirby did not say whether any deals had been made or elaborate on the specific weapons involved.
Being placed on the Treasury Department sanctions list isolates Mkrtychev from the US financial system and also endangers anyone who supports Mkrtychev.
“Today’s action sends a clear signal that the United States will not admit to attacking those who support Russia’s aggression and ruthless war against Ukraine,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We will continue to identify, expose and counter Russian attempts to acquire military equipment (from North Korea) or any other state willing to prosecute its war in Ukraine,” he said in a statement.
Source: DN
