The Russian military has begun using multiple North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles in a series of strikes against Ukraine, the White House reported on Thursday.
Russia recently carried out some of the most intensive strikes on Ukraine since the conflict began over two years ago. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Russia launched nearly 300 attack drones and missiles of all types against cities across Ukraine.
White House Report
During a press briefing, White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said, “Our information indicates that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several [dozen] ballistic missiles.”
Kirby said on 30 December that “Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine,” adding that it appeared to land in an open field.
Earlier this month, “Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine, including as part of its overnight aerial attack. We’re still assessing the impacts of these additional missiles,” he confirmed.
The NSC spokesperson asserted that Russia and North Korea will learn from these launches and that the US anticipates that “Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure” and kill innocent Ukrainians.
In exchange for its assistance, Kirby believes Pyongyang wants fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials, and other advanced technologies from Moscow.
US Concerned About Russia’s Negotiations with Iran: Kirby
The NSC spokesperson said the US is concerned that Russian negotiations about purchasing close-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing. However, Kirby believes that Iran has not yet delivered close-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
According to press reports, in September 2023, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) received Russian Defence Minister Shoigu and displayed its Ababil close-range ballistic missile and other missile systems.
Kirby stated in mid-December, the IRGC Aerospace Force deployed multiple ballistic missile and missile support systems to an internal Iranian training region for display to a visiting Russian delegation. “We assess that Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran,” he noted.
The US said North Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers, some of which Russia has fired into Ukraine https://t.co/hCNr6W4aEN pic.twitter.com/YgicBLtzGv
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 4, 2024
US Will Hold Russia Accountable: Kirby
In response to Russian activities, Kirby alleges that Moscow’s acquisition of ballistic missiles from the DPRK violates multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
First, “We will raise these arms deals at the UNSC alongside our allies and partners, and we will demand that Russia be held accountable for yet again violating its international obligations,” he said.
Second, “we will impose additional sanctions against those working to facilitate arms transfers between Russia and the DPRK and between Russia and Iran,” Kirby explained.
Lastly, Kirby said, “we will continue to release information to the public and expose these arms deals [...] because we will not allow countries to aid Russia’s war machine in secret.”
In his concluding remarks, Kirby stated, “Ukrainians deserve to know that the American people and this government will continue to stand with them.”
Russia-DPRK Military Cooperation Concerning: US Ambassador
According to a statement by the US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, “The DPRK and Russia are both blatantly violating the United Nations arms embargo on the DPRK, which prohibits all UN Member States from procuring arms or related materiel from the DPRK and prohibits the DPRK from exporting arms.”
Thomas-Greenfield anticipates that these developments represent a significant and concerning escalation in Russia-DPRK military cooperation and is concerned about the security implications of such cooperation on world peace and security.
“The United States will continue to work with allies and partners to identify, expose, and counter the Russian government’s attempts to acquire military equipment from the DPRK or any state that is prepared to support the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine,” the US Ambassador said.
UNSC to Hold Meeting on Russia’s Use of North Korean Missiles
Members of the UNSC will meet on 10 January to address North Korea’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya announced on X.
“The issue of North Korea’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia and their use against Ukraine will be the subject of discussion on January 10, at a meeting convened in coordination with Ukraine by partner members of the Security Council,” Kyslytsya confirmed.