DPRK on US allegations of arms to Russia: A"self-made rumor"

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Jan 2023 16:32
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A DPRK official calls the allegations "a foolish attempt to justify its offer of weapons to Ukraine."

A North Korean flag flies on a mast. (Reuters)

DPRK denied on Sunday Washington's claims that it is providing weapons to Russia's Wagner private military group.

The US' first claim came through the coordinator for strategic communications at the US National Security Council John Kirby where he claimed earlier in December that DPRK had already provided weaponry to Wagner and was preparing to do so again.

The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) denied then the reports of alleged arms shipments to Russia.

The US designated earlier this week Wagner Group as a "transnational criminal organization," citing alleged weapons deals with Pyongyang that violate the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The White House earlier released US intelligence of Russian rail cars entering DPRK claiming that Moscow is transferring rockets and missiles from the DPRK to Russia.

Korea's Central News Agency cited a senior DPRK official who rejected Washington's accusations.

In his statement, the official warned that the US would face a "really undesirable result" if it continued to spread the "self-made rumor".

"Trying to tarnish the image of (North Korea) by fabricating a non-existent thing is a grave provocation that can never be allowed and that cannot but trigger its reaction," said Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of US Affairs of DPRK's Foreign Ministry.

Kwon called it "a foolish attempt to justify its offer of weapons to Ukraine."

Earlier this week, the United States said it will supply 31 of its M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, a delivery to be fulfilled in a matter of months.

The sister of DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un and the deputy head of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yo Jong, slammed America's decision on Thursday and said the US is the source of escalations in the Ukraine conflict due to its relentless supply of arms and weapons to Kiev.

"The US, by pumping Ukraine with a large number of weapons, is 'distinguished' in stimulating the continuation of unstable global events, and recently made its anti-Russian position even clearer by officially announcing the supply of its main tanks [to Ukraine]," Kim Yo Jong said.

"We are deeply concerned about the behavior of the US, leading to an escalation of the war with the supply of military equipment to Ukraine for ground attack, and we strongly condemn this," she added.

NATO chief meets with South Korea's foreign minister

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin in Seoul on Sunday and expressed concerns regarding the DPRK's "reckless missile tests and nuclear programmes."

The two also discussed the impact of the Ukraine war on South Korea.

"We also know that North Korea is providing military support to the Russian war efforts with the rockets and missiles," Stoltenberg said.