U.S. says North Korea delivered 1,000 containers of equipment, munitions to Russia for Ukraine war
WASHINGTON — The White House said North Korea has delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speculation about a possible North Korean plan to refill Russia’s munition stores drained in its war with Ukraine flared last month, when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin and visit key military sites.
White House National Security Council spokesman John F. Kirby said Friday that the U.S. believes Kim is seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies in return for the munitions in order to boost North Korea’s nuclear program.
A surge in rail traffic on North Korea-Russia border suggests arms supply to Russia, think tank says
A U.S. think tank says recent satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia.
The White House released images that it said show the containers were loaded onto a Russian-flagged ship before being moved via train to southwestern Russia. The containers were shipped between Sept. 7 and Oct. 1 from Najin, North Korea, to Dunay, Russia, the White House said.
The U.S. has previously accused North Korea of providing ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia.
After he had met with Putin, Kim last month called for an exponential increase in production of nuclear weapons and for his country to play a larger role in a coalition of nations confronting the United States in a “new Cold War,” North Korean state media said.
In Russia, Kim deepened “comradely fellowship and friendly ties” with Putin, North Korean state media reported.
Putin is believed to be seeking one of the few things impoverished North Korea has in abundance: ammunition and rockets for Soviet-era weapons.
The Korean Central News Agency said Kim made the comments during a two-day session of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, which amended the constitution to include his policy of expanding the country’s nuclear weapons program.
During Kim’s six-day trip to Russia, the two countries said they discussed boosting their defense ties but didn’t disclose specifics. Foreign experts speculate the two countries were pushing to reach arms transfer deals in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
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