Security Council member denounces ‘violation of sanctions once morest North Korea’
‘Putin’s urgency’ over shortage of military supplies
Russia “fake news you’ve never heard of”
The U.S. government said it was recently discovered that Russia is trying to purchase millions of rockets and shells from North Korea while it is known that Russia is suffering from a shortage of military supplies for the war in Ukraine due to export restrictions from the West. It has not yet been confirmed whether North Korean military weapons were used in Ukraine, but it is pointed out that the purchase of weapons itself violates the UN Security Council resolution on sanctions once morest North Korea, which bans North Korea’s arms export.
White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said at a video briefing on the 6th (local time) that “there are signs that Russia is in the process of purchasing[North Korean weapons]. “It’s hard to predict how big it will be,” he said. Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said there were signs that Russia had contacted North Korea for ammunition.
The announcement is an official acknowledgment of the New York Times report the previous day that Russia was buying North Korean weapons, which had suffered a setback in the supply of munitions due to international sanctions. White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said: “As you have heard, Russia is dependent on North Korea and Iran for military equipment. Western sanctions are working.” Coordinator Kirby also said, “(The purchase of arms from North Korea) is another proof of how desperate President Vladimir Putin has become.”
The US government also condemned Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, for violating the resolution on sanctions once morest North Korea. “[Russia’s purchase of North Korean weapons]violates the Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea, which prohibits the purchase of all weapons and related materials from North Korea,” said Vedant Patel, senior deputy spokesperson for the State Department. I am concerned,” he said.
Russia has completely denied allegations of arms imports from North Korea. According to Archyde.com, Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenza, said, “I have never heard of the NYT report, and I think it is another fake news that is being spread.”
Reporter Shin Ah-hyung abro@donga.com
