The White House accused North Korea of sending a “significant” number of artillery shells to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States believes North Korea “it is trying to make it look like they are being sent to countries in the Middle East or North Africa.”
It didn’t provide a specific estimate on how much ammo to send Russia.
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Kirby said North Korea “covertly supplies” the ammunition to Russia, but “we are still monitoring it to determine if shipments are actually received.”
He insisted that the expeditions “will not change the course of the war”, citing Western efforts to supply the Ukrainian army.
The White House would not specify the mode of transportation or whether Western nations will attempt to intercept shipments to Russia.
He revealed intelligence nearly two months after early US intelligence officials determined that the Russian Defense Ministry was in the process of doing so. buying millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for his invasion of Ukraine.
The White House plays down the significance
Despite the disclosure of information about the secret expeditions, the White House has tried to downplay their significance.
“We don’t believe they are in enough quantity to change the direction of this war or tangibly change the momentum both east and south,” where some of the heaviest fighting in Ukraine is taking place, Mr Kirby said.
He said the shipments were a sign not only of Pyongyang’s willingness to support Russia, but also of Moscow’s ammunition shortage, caused by Western sanctions and export controls.
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Is Russia running out of arms?
North Korea accuses the United States of “tarnishing” its reputation
In September, North Korea said it had never supplied Russia with weapons or ammunition and had no intention of doing so.
He went on to warn the United States to “keep its mouth shut” and to stop circulating rumors aimed at “tarnishing” the country’s image.
