Russia doesn't rule out DPRK nuclear test amid US provocation: Envoy
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The Russian Ambassador to DPRK calls out the US for exploiting the conversation of Russia's alleged arms purchases from the DPRK as a pressure mechanism to push South Korea into supplying ammunition to Ukraine.
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Russian Ambassador to the DPRK Alexander Matsegora in February 2021 (Press-office of the Embassy of Russia to DPRK)
Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora stated that his country believes the DPRK has the ability to conduct nuclear testing if the United States and South Korea persist in provoking it, stressing that the blame will fall on the US.
“If American provocations continue, if they become more and more dangerous, I do not rule out that the leadership of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea], in the interest of strengthening the defense capability of their state, will be forced to decide to conduct a nuclear test. This is certainly an undesirable scenario. But if this does happen, the responsibility will lie entirely with the Americans and their allies,” Matsegora explained in an interview for Sputnik.
A warning did already come out on January 1 by DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un that the US and South Korea's growing escalation would, "without hesitation", provoke a large-scale response from it.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in January, an underwater nuclear weapon system was tested by the DPRK in response to the joint military exercises conducted by the South Korea, Japan, and US alliance - citing a statement by a spokesperson for DPRK's Defense Ministry.
Read next: Russia rejects US claims of military cooperation with DPRK
Matsegora continued that in that context, the US is exploiting the conversation of Russia's alleged arms purchases from the DPRK as a pressure mechanism to push South Korea into supplying ammunition to Ukraine.
He noted that Western nations, including the US, do not have proof of the DPRK transferring artillery shells and missiles to Russia.
This comes after statements by White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby who said that the US is strongly convinced that the DPRK supplied Russia with ballistic missile systems intended for deployment in Ukraine, noting that the DPRK is seeking military support from Russia, including fighter aircraft, armored vehicles, and equipment for ballistic missile production.
"I do not rule out that they will try to fabricate evidence. The reason for the hysteria is clear, this is how pressure is being put on South Korea to induce it to directly supply ammunition to Ukraine. Seoul has large stocks of such munitions. I very much hope that the South Koreans will not give in to the provocation. This would be a very big mistake with far-reaching consequences," he said.
Last month, the United States said it would supply 31 of its M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, a delivery to be fulfilled in a matter of months. Meanwhile, the deputy head of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Yo Jong, slammed America's decision 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.
