US claims Russia obtained DPRK ballistic missiles

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Jan 2024 22:58
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The White House official mentioned that the US believes Russia is seeking short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, with negotiations reportedly underway.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in Washington (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby on Thursday said that the US is strongly convinced that the DPRK supplied Russia with ballistic missile systems intended for deployment in Ukraine.

"Our information indicates that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," Kirby said during a press briefing.

Kirby mentioned that Russia deployed some of the missiles into Ukraine, and the US anticipates that both nations will draw lessons from these launches.

Kirby noted that Pyongyang is seeking military support from Russia, including fighter aircraft, armored vehicles, and equipment for ballistic missile production. He expressed concern that such a transfer from Russia to the DPRK could have significant security implications for the Korean peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

It is important to note that the rise in tensions in the Korean peninsula is owed to provocations tied to seasonal military drills held by the US, South Korea, and Japan in the peninsula, which have triggered major security concerns on the part of DPRK authorities.

Adding to this is the fact that the US has violated DPRK sovereignty multiple times, including through the dispatch of spying satellites above ground.

On January 1rst, the DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un warned the US and South Korea that the growing escalation would, "without hesitation", provoke a large-scale response from the DPRK.

Allegations of Russia seeking Iranian missiles

Elsewhere in his comments, Kirby stated that the US believes Russia has intentions to acquire short-range ballistic missiles from Iran. While Iran has not yet supplied Russia with the equipment, negotiations on this matter are reportedly progressing actively, he said.

In November, Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, refuted allegations that Russia's collaboration with the DPRK violates UN Security Council resolutions. She dismissed accusations of illegal military-technical cooperation between Russia and the DPRK as unfounded and unsubstantiated.

Zakharova further accused the US and its partners of violating international norms and UN Security Council resolutions by channeling weapons to Ukraine.