The United States has called for a UN Security Council meeting on 10 January to discuss the supply of missiles from North Korea to the Russian Federation, as stated by US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“On 2 January, Russian forces launched multiple DPRK ballistic missiles into Ukraine, including as part of its overnight aerial attack,” the statement reads.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield revealed that the US has obtained new information indicating that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several dozen ballistic missiles.
“We expect Russia will use additional missiles from the DPRK to destroy more of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and kill Ukrainian civilians,” Ambassador said.
The US assesses that North Korea is seeking military assistance from Russia in return for this support, marking a significant escalation in military cooperation between the two nations. This cooperation is seen as a blatant violation of the UN arms embargo on North Korea, undermining the global nonproliferation regime.
Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the Russian Federation’s pattern of behavior, highlighting its disregard for its responsibilities as a UN Security Council member and its support for regimes engaged in arms proliferation. She also pointed out North Korea’s efforts to improve its nuclear weapons delivery systems, noting more than 30 launches using ballistic missile technology in 2023, all in violation of Security Council resolutions.
The United States pledges to work with allies and partners to counter Russian attempts to acquire military equipment from North Korea or any state supporting its war in Ukraine.
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