US intelligence: Russian delegation traveled to North Korea to negotiate new arms deals
Moscow's appeal to North Korea and Iran for weapons and ammunition shows that Putin is in a difficult situation
Russia and North Korea are negotiating new arms shipments that Russian dictator Putin needs for his war against Ukraine, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
Source. This was reported by the Financial Times.
"The United States has intelligence indicating that another group of Russian officials traveled to Pyongyang after a visit by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to discuss potential arms deals," he said.
Kirby recalled that during a July trip to North Korea, Shoigu tried to convince the country's authorities to sell artillery ammunition to Russia. Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un then exchanged letters in which they called for expanding bilateral cooperation.
According to US intelligence, these negotiations have now entered a new phase. "After the deal is concluded, Russia will receive a significant amount of ammunition that the Russian military intends to use in Ukraine. The deal may also include the supply of raw materials needed for the Russian military industry," Kirby said.
He added that artillery ammunition is not the only request from Moscow, which is looking for other types of weapons. Earlier, military analysts pointed out that North Korea has short-range ballistic missiles that have similar characteristics to Russia's Iskanders.
Kirby emphasized that any such agreements would violate UN Security Council resolutions. "We call on the DPRK to end these negotiations <...> and to honor its public commitments not to sell or supply arms to Russia," he said.
Kirby also said that Moscow's appeal to North Korea and Iran for weapons and ammunition shows that Putin is in a difficult situation.
"Frankly, it only shows desperation and weakness," the US representative said.
Background. In early August, US intelligence reported that Shoigu had traveled to North Korea to ask for ammunition. The DPRK has millions of stockpiles of 152-mm artillery shells and ballistic missiles of the same type as Iskanders.
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