Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un pose for a photo prior to their talks in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019. | Pool Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko
The Biden administration unveiled new intelligence findings on Wednesday, revealing that North Korea and Russia are actively engaged in high-level discussions aimed at providing additional weaponry and materials to support Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently made a trip to North Korea to secure more artillery ammunition. Following Shoigu’s visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un exchanged letters, committing to enhancing their collaboration.
The aftermath of Shoigu’s visit witnessed another delegation of Russian officials traveling to Pyongyang to conduct further discussions about potential arms deals. The envisioned agreements involve North Korea sending Russia significant quantities and multiple types of weapons for utilization in Ukraine, as well as providing essential raw materials to bolster Russia’s military manufacturing capabilities.
Addressing the unfolding situation, Kirby emphasized that any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would violate several U.N. Security Council resolutions. “We’re continuing to monitor this situation closely. And we urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia,” Kirby stated, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The reported arms negotiations add a new layer to Russia’s ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine, which shows no signs of immediate resolution. Despite Western military support, a Ukrainian counteroffensive has struggled to achieve significant breakthroughs. Both Russia and Ukraine are depleting ammunition reserves and seeking strategic advantages to secure a lasting advantage.
The Russian Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to requests for comment on the alleged arms talks.
Kirby refrained from detailing how the U.S. gathered this intelligence, citing the need to safeguard sources and methods. Nevertheless, this disclosure represents the latest instance of the Biden administration publicly sharing intelligence to stay ahead of Moscow in light of its Ukraine conflict pursuits.
Kirby noted that Putin’s pursuit of discussions with a relatively isolated country like North Korea signifies his desperation. However, he also acknowledged that the duration of Russia’s warfare remains uncertain. “It’s hard to look at this and not see anything but weakness,” Kirby remarked.
Notably, North Korea has previously violated U.N. sanctions by providing artillery to Russia through intermediary countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Russia, in turn, has explored obtaining weaponry from Tehran, even using Iranian drones to target Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including the electrical grid.
As this revelation unfolded, South Korea’s military reported that Pyongyang had conducted a ballistic missile launch on Wednesday. This launch seems to be a response to the U.S. military’s annual joint drills with South Korea.
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