Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, there are growing suspicions that North Korea may be aiding Russia in restocking its munitions.
The White House revealed on Friday that the Asian nation has supplied Russia with over 1,000 containers of military equipment.
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a meeting that has sparked conjecture about a potential alliance. The Associated Press disclosed that the two leaders toured significant military installations during this visit.
John Kirby, the spokesman for the White House National Security Council, was quoted in the report stating that the U.S. suspects Kim's recent visit to Russia involved a potential exchange of goods. The belief is that Kim is seeking advanced weapons technologies and in return, is supplying Russia with additional munitions for its conflict with Ukraine.
Kirby condemned North Korea's actions, stating, We condemn the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] for providing Russian with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian civilians and further Russias illegitimate war.
He further added, In return for support, we assess the Pyongyang is seeking military assistance from Russia including fighter aircraft, surface to air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, or other materials and other advanced technologies.
Despite North Korea's apparent support for Russia, the nation has criticized the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group in South Korea, labeling it a provocation. The report suggests that North Korea has indicated its readiness to employ nuclear weapons for self-defense if necessary.
In retaliation, the U.S. has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with ammunition, artillery shells, and rockets for its operations in Eastern Europe. However, North Korea has refuted these allegations, denying any provision of military materials to Russia.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, has noted an unusual increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border. The think tank reportedly used satellite imagery to substantiate their observations.
North Korea, despite its longstanding threats of nuclear war against the U.S., has yet to act on these threats. The Asian nation has conducted several nuclear tests since the 1996 international agreement banning such tests, with six tests taking place in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017.
Recently, the U.S. announced its plans to test its nuclear arsenal without triggering an explosion, a move that has elicited threats from Russia to withdraw its signature from the nuclear test ban.
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