North Korea’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday called US accusations that Pyongyang is supplying Russia with artillery munitions for its war in Ukraine as “baseless”, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA said, as quoted by AFP.

Tensions are rising on the Korean peninsula after North Korea carried out a series of weapons tests last week (launching at least 23 missiles in one day, as well as an intercontinental ballistic missile), while the US and South Korea just completed the largest joint air drills in the area.

Pyongyang’s denial came in response to allegations made last week by White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

He claimed that North Korea was sending a “significant number” of projectiles to Russia “covertly”, “trying to make it look like they were being sent to the Middle East or Africa”.

The spokesman noted that Washington is currently investigating whether this military aid to North Korea was received by the Russians.

“Recently, the United States has been persistently spreading unsubstantiated rumors about ‘weapons deals’ between the DPRK (North Korea, North Korea) and Russia,” the deputy director of the foreign policy department of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. – of Korea’s national defense, the KCNA news agency cites.

We declare once again that there has never been an “arms trade” with Russia and we do not expect it in the future,” the statement reads, regarding this “rumor” as a “hostile attempt to tarnish Russia’s image.” DPRK on the international arena”.

John Kirby added last week that he does not believe “that the equipment that (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is getting or will get is going to make a difference on the battlefield.

He also believes that North Korea’s supposed aid shows Pyongyang’s capabilities, as well as Russia’s “weaknesses and needs.”