A joint statement by the United States and its partners on Tuesday condemned arms sales between North Korea and Russia, including what it described as Russia’s acquisition of North Korean ballistic missiles and Moscow’s use of them against Ukraine on Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, Reuters reported. .

Kim Jong Un and Sergey LavrovPhoto: Valery Sharifulin / AP / Profimedia

Why is this important?

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have grown closer since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, although they deny any arms deals. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with President Vladimir Putin in the Russian Far East last September, and senior Russian officials have visited Pyongyang several times.

The White House said last week that Russia used short-range ballistic missiles (SSBMs) obtained from North Korea to launch multiple strikes against Ukraine, citing recently declassified information. Later, a high-ranking Ukrainian official confirmed this statement.

Security issues

“We are deeply concerned about the security implications of this cooperation in Europe, on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world,” the joint statement said.

The declaration was signed by the USA, Great Britain, EU, Australia, Germany, Canada and other partner countries.

“We strongly condemn Russia’s (North Korea’s) export and purchase of (North Korea’s) ballistic missiles, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles against Ukraine on December 30, 2023 and January 2, 2024,” the message reads. also stated in the joint statement.

Asked about the allegations during a call with reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov said: “No comment.”

Context

Last week, Russia attacked Kharkiv with multiple missiles, killing two people and injuring more than 60, in one of the largest missile and drone attacks since the full-scale war began in February 2022.

North Korea has been under a UN arms embargo since it first tested a nuclear bomb in 2006.

Resolutions of the UN Security Council, passed with the support of Russia, prohibit countries from trading arms and other military equipment with North Korea.