North Korea Denies Selling Weapons To Moscow As Russia’s Isolation Grows

Topline

North Korea on Thursday denied supplying Russia with weapons or ammunition for use in Ukraine, dismissing U.S. intelligence reports as “reckless” rumors designed to damage the nation’s image as Moscow resorts to desperate measures to support its flagging invasion.

Key Facts

North Korea has “never exported weapons or ammunition” to Russia and has no plans to do so, according to a statement from a senior official at the country’s defense ministry carried by state media outlet Korean Central News Agency on Thursday.

The official—who was identified as North Korea’s vice-director general of the general bureau of equipment of the ministry of national defense but was not named—dismissed U.S. intelligence reports that Pyongyang was selling arms to Moscow as “reckless” rumors designed to “tarnish” the country’s image.

Washington should “stop making reckless remarks” and “keep its mouth shut,” the official added.

The official stressed that it is Pyongyang’s “lawful right” to build and export arms should it choose to do so, rejecting UN security council sanctions levied against the regime as “unlawful” and “cooked up by the U.S. and its vassal forces.”

Key Background

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has isolated the country on the international stage and international sanctions have reportedly left Moscow struggling to resupply its troops and restock weaponry. Its situation is increasingly desperate—Russia is facing heavy losses, crippling sanctions and fierce Ukrainian counterattacks in addition to its supply chain woes—and the Kremlin announced plans for “partial mobilization” of army reserves on Wednesday, which would draft some 300,000 troops. Securing military equipment is a bit more complicated, however, and Russia’s significant military-industrial capacity has been hampered by ongoing sanctions. While the Kremlin still has some big friends on the international stage willing to continue purchasing its goods—notably energy exports—this group is dwindling. Even powerful allies like India and China, initially reluctant to openly criticize the war in Ukraine since it started in February, have begun to criticize the war and bluntly question Russian President Vladimir Putin’s judgment. Even when remaining neutral, few nations have been willing to brazenly support Russia’s invasion or help Moscow skirt sanctions and procure weapons. Putin has reportedly purchased drones from Iran to use on the battlefield and U.S. intelligence reports indicated he had turned to Pyongyang to purchase millions of artillery shells and rockets. The report suggested Putin could be forced to purchase more weapons from North Korea as the war goes on.

Big Number

3. That’s how many countries recognize the independence of the two self-declared republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine, a public nod of support to Moscow. In addition to Russia, North Korea and Syria, a longstanding ally of Moscow, recognize the republics. Moscow says the occupied regions will host referendums on joining Russia, which are derided as shams and will not be recognized by Ukraine and many Western nations.

Further Reading

U.S. Intelligence Reportedly Shows Russia Is Buying Weapons From North Korea (Forbes)