By Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein
As per New York Times earlier this fall, US intelligence believes North Korea has sold weapons to Russia in aid of its attempt to invade Ukraine. North Korean authorities, for what it’s worth, have publicly denied this. Judging from the evidence reported so far, it doesn’t yet seem fully confirmed that any such weapons trade has in fact taken place. There’s little reason to doubt it’s been discussed — Russia is probably weighing all conceivable options for arms purchases and North Korea isn’t usually a picky seller. AP:
In a state media report Thursday, an unnamed North Korean defense official told the U.S. to stop making “reckless remarks” and to “keep its mouth shut.” Biden administration officials earlier this month confirmed a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia was in the process of purchasing arms from North Korea, including millions of artillery shells and rockets, as Moscow attempts to ease severe supply shortages in Ukraine worsened by U.S.-led export controls and sanctions.
The North Korean statement came weeks after Moscow described the U.S. intelligence finding as “fake.”
North Korean arms exports to Russia would violate United Nations resolutions banning the country from importing or exporting weapons.
(Source: Kim Tong-Hyung, “North Korea denies sending arms to Russia amid Ukraine war,” AP News September 22nd, 2022.)
Tags: Sanctions
