Washington, 31 March 2023 (GNP): The White House has new evidence that Russia is once again seeking weapons and munitions from North Korea to fuel the ongoing war in Ukraine. The deal is said to include the provision of food and other commodities to North Korea in exchange for weaponry.
White House national security council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that Russia is seeking to send a delegation to North Korea to receive over two dozen kinds of weapons and munitions in exchange for food.
While experts acknowledge the food crisis in North Korea under Kim Jong-un’s 11-year rule, they do not believe it is at a stage of famine or mass deaths.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury Department declared that a Slovakian citizen named Ashot Mkrtychev was subjected to sanctions for allegedly trying to enable weapon transactions between Russia and North Korea.
Mkrtychev collaborated with North Korean authorities during the period spanning from the conclusion of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, to acquire more than twenty-five various weapons and ammunition for Russia. In exchange for these arms, commercial airplanes, raw materials, and goods were promised to be supplied to North Korea.
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According to a statement made by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the actions of this individual, who engaged in an arms deal, demonstrate that Putin is resorting to countries like Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which are considered as the last available options for suppliers.
Last month, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated that according to US intelligence, China was contemplating the provision of arms and ammunition to Russia. However, there is no evidence yet of China following through with delivering these weapons.
The Biden administration has been releasing intelligence findings to make allies and the public aware of Russia’s intent and to potentially deter Vladimir Putin from taking action. Any arms deal with Russia would be a violation of UN resolutions banning North Korea from exporting or importing weapons.
