North Korea on Saturday condemned the United States for supplying Ukraine with ATACMS ballistic missiles, saying that any strike on Russian territory with these missiles would only hamper peace efforts.
"The United States did supply Ukraine with the ATACMS surface-to-surface missile system, despite the serious concerns and strong protests of the international community," North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong Chor said in a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The ambassador said that the ATACMS "will still be used to strike deep into Russia, no one can deny that."
"Striking deep into the heartland of the Russian nuclear power will not help to bring about a quick end to the situation in Ukraine and a peaceful resolution," he added.
The Pentagon has previously stated that ATACMS missiles are provided to Ukraine with guarantees that these weapons "will be used within the sovereign borders of Ukraine." This means that the missiles can be launched at the territories of the regions occupied by Russia, including the Crimean peninsula.
Background. According to the United States, North Korea provides Russia with weapons. According to Washington, over the past month, the North Koreans have shipped more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia.
In addition, according to the AР, Hamas terrorists used North Korean weapons in their attack on Israel.