2024-01-05 10:26:07
Missiles delivered by North Korea in Russia were used in the large-scale attacks launched in recent days against Ukrainethe White House argued yesterday, Thursday, denouncing “the continued and troubling escalation” of Pyongyang’s support for Moscow.
“Our information indicates that the North Korea recently delivered ballistic missile launch systems and several ballistic missiles to Russia» some of which were used on December 30 and January 2 in strikes against Ukrainesaid White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Kirby’s comments came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for increased production of rocket launchers during a visit to a military equipment factory in preparation for “a military confrontation” with South Korea and the US, the state news agency KCNA reported today.
The transfer of this equipment highlights, according to Kirby, the need for the US Congress to approve Ukraine’s new military aid package.
The White House declassifies intelligence revealing North Korea’s provision of ballistic missiles and launchers to Russia for the Ukraine conflict. National security spokesperson John Kirby announce plans to bring this critical issue to the UN Security Council.#etribune… pic.twitter.com/YZ0fhcR3lQ
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) January 5, 2024
US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to “act without waiting any longer” after the “massive bombing” of Ukraine, as Republicans continue to place conditions on approving new aid to Kiev.
Ukraine’s air defenses, which have faced a barrage of bombing from Russia in recent days, remain an “absolute” priority, Kirby stressed.
Russian forces fired at least one of the North Korean-supplied missiles on December 30 and he then landed in a field in the Zaporizhzhya provincein southern Ukraine, he clarified.
Then, on January 2nd, Russia launched a missile against Ukraine many missiles in the context of a massive air strikeKirby added.
Violation of sanctions
The US and its allies now intend to bring the issue to the UN Security Council, as the delivery of these missiles is a violation of the sanctions the organization has imposed on North Korea, he pointed out.
In October the US had announced that more than 1,000 containers containing military equipment and ammunition had been delivered to Russia by North Korea the previous weeks.
Seoul has also estimated that North Korea has given Russia more than a million artillery shells for its war in Ukrainereceiving in return technical advice on its satellites.
In exchange for transporting military equipment to Moscow, Pyongyang seeks to acquire Russian military equipment and ‘advanced technologies’Kirby had pointed out.
Russia and North Korea, historic allies, are subject to international sanctions – the former for its invasion of Ukraine and the latter for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Their growing military cooperation is a source of concern for Ukraine and its allies, especially after Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September in the Russian Far East.
According to Kirby, Russia also plans to buy missiles from Iran, another ally of hers. “We will impose additional sanctions on those who facilitate the transfer of weapons from North Korea and Iran to Russia,” he stressed.
Source: APE-AFP
#White #House #Russian #attacks #Ukraine #ballistic #missiles #North #Korea