The United States, Japan, and South Korea have strongly criticized North Korea for facilitating the provision of weapons to Russia, aiding its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In a joint statement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin confirmed several cases of weapons provision by North Korea to Russia for use in Ukraine.
“Such weapons deliveries, several of which we now confirm have been completed, will significantly increase the human toll of Russia’s war of aggression,” the statement reads. “We will continue to work together with the international community to expose Russia’s attempts to acquire military equipment from the DPRK.”
DPRK, which stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is the official name of North Korea’s socialist regime.
Officials also alleged that the politically isolated North Korea is leveraging its ammunition as a bargaining chip to seek Russia’s military aid to enhance its own military endeavors.
“We emphasize that arms transfers to or from the DPRK—as well as the transfer to the DPRK of certain items and technical cooperation related to the DPRK’s weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile, or conventional weapons programs—would violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions,” they said in the statement.
North Korea’s Ties With Russia
Recent satellite intelligence indicates that after a rare summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, North Korea dispatched roughly 1,000 containers of supplies, potentially containing artillery ammunition.North Korea is one of only a few nations that have openly expressed unwavering support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Calling the relationship with Russia his country’s “first priority,” Mr. Kim declared his “full and unconditional support” to Mr. Putin in protecting what he asserted were Russia’s security interests.
The summit was described by North Korean state media as a “historic event” that reaffirmed the longstanding and strategic friendship between the DPRK and Russia.
“In retrospect, the two countries have made a long journey of struggle together on the common front for achieving independence against imperialism and defending global peace,” one state media outlet said.
US Condemns North Korea’s Arms Supply
The exchange of weapons and military technologies takes center stage in Russia–North Korea relations.In a stern message in September, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan cautioned North Korea that it'll face repercussions if it trades weapons with Russia.
“Providing weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield to attack grain silos and the heating infrastructure of major cities as we head into winter, to try to conquer territory that belongs to another sovereign nation, is not going to reflect well on North Korea, and they will pay a price for this in the international community,” Mr. Sullivan said in a press briefing at the White House.The United States and its allies have expressed apprehension about the warming bond between North Korea and Russia in recent years, which is fueled by their geopolitical isolation.
Both have demonstrated a willingness to employ forceful military tactics to advance their political agendas.
