North Korea (DPRK) is being reminded not to supply weapons to Russia for use in the Ukraine conflict. If they persist, North Korea will pay a high price for their actions.
“Providing weapons to Russia would reflect poorly on North Korea, and they will have to bear the consequences within the international community,” said U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Previously, the Kremlin emphasized that nothing could be said about the statements of some U.S. officials regarding the planned visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia this month. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov questioned whether they could confirm anything.
“No, I cannot. There is nothing I can say,” Peskov affirmed. The plan is for Kim to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and they are also likely to discuss the supply of weapons.
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According to Sullivan, Kim hopes these discussions take place at the leadership level. “We continue to freeze Russian defense industry assets,” he said. Currently, Moscow is seeking weapons, such as ammunition, from various sources.
“We will continue to urge North Korea to fulfill its public obligation not to supply weapons to Russia, which will result in the deaths of Ukrainian civilians,” he added.
On Monday, September 4, 2023, Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, stated that Kim and Putin are likely planning to meet. The New York Times quoted several U.S. officials reporting that Kim may visit Russia as early as next week.
Political analysts reveal that as isolation against Russia increases due to the conflict in Ukraine, North Korea becomes increasingly valuable. For North Korea, the relationship with Russia is not as warm as during the days of the Soviet Union, but now Russia needs allies like North Korea.
An official from North Korea’s Ministry of Defense stated last November that Pyongyang has never made a weapons deal with Russia and will not do so in the future.
During a visit to Pyongyang in July, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited a weapons exhibition, including ballistic missiles. He stated that the two countries were discussing the possibility of joint military exercises.
Kim will leave Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un plans to visit Russia later this month. He is scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss the possibility of supplying weapons to Russia for the Ukraine conflict.
Sources from the U.S. and its allied countries on Monday, September 4, 2023, mentioned that Kim will leave Pyongyang using a weapon-proof train to reach the Russian Pacific coast in Vladivostok.
An official stated to the U.S. television network CBS that both leaders are discussing the possibility of North Korea supplying weapons to Russia and military cooperation between the two countries, including joint military exercises.
Following the recent visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang, he convinced Kim to be willing to sell artillery ammunition to Russia. Putin wants North Korea to provide anti-tank missiles and artillery projectiles. In return, Kim wants Russia to provide technology for its satellites and nuclear-powered submarines. “Kim also hopes for food aid from Russia,” the official added.
