On Friday, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed widespread allegations that North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia, labeling the accusation as “absurd.”
Comments from Kim
In a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said in reference to the US that “hostile forces” have been “misleading public opinion” with a “false rumour” of the North exporting weapons to Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
“The technology of weapon systems we have recently developed and updated cannot be open to the public and, therefore, the possibility of export itself cannot be discussed. We have no intention to export our military technical capabilities to any country or open them to the public,” she said.
Kim added that for Pyongyang, the urgency was not to “advertise” or “export,” but to further perfect the “war readiness and war deterrent” of its army and “to make the enemy unable to overcome the inferiority in military capability.” The diplomat added that the North was not trying to “conceal the fact that such weapons will be used” to prevent Seoul “from inventing any idle thinking.”
She further warned that “the more persistently the US resorts to different military acts of threatening…by instigating [South Korean] military vassals and the more desperately [Seoul] keeps clinging to its confrontation posture while boosting its reckless “boldness,” in reliance on its master, the more thickly the dark clouds and shadow of curse would hang over their heads.”
Backdrop
Kim’s statement comes a day after the US imposed sanctions against two Russian individuals and three Russian companies for facilitating arms transfers between Russia and North Korea, including ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine. This is the latest effort by the Treasury and State Departments to disrupt these transfers. “Today’s action reflects our commitment to disrupt North Korea’s deepening military cooperation with Russia,” said Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
The US aims to hold accountable those facilitating weapon shipments, enabling Russia’s war. Over the past year, Russia and North Korea have strengthened military cooperation, with North Korea supplying ballistic missiles and munitions to Russia. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Russia has used over 40 North Korean-produced ballistic missiles and other munitions against Ukraine, violating UN resolutions.
Kim Jong Un’s Sister Slams US for Spreading “False Rumours” on North Korean Arms Transfer to Russia
Kim Yo Jong, the Supreme Leader’s sister, said in reference to the US that “hostile forces” have been “misleading public opinion.”
May 17, 2024
IMAGE SOURCE: IISSNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un with Russian President Vladimir Putin.