US concern about Pyongyang planning to deliver more weapons to Moscow

A US State Department spokesman said Monday that the United States is concerned about North Korea’s plans to deliver more weapons to Russia, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to strengthen strategic cooperation with Moscow.

The official North Korean Central News Agency reported earlier Monday that this pledge was made by Kim in a message he sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia’s National Day.

The agency added that Kim called for “closer strategic cooperation” with Moscow and strengthening relations with the Russian president “in line with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to achieve the lofty goal of building a strong country.”

A US State Department spokesman stated that despite Pyongyang’s denial more than once that it had sold weapons to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, the United States confirmed that North Korea had completed the delivery of weapons, including projectiles and missiles, to the Kremlin-backed Wagner private military group in November 2022.

“We are concerned that the DPRK plans to deliver more military equipment to Russia,” he said, using North Korea’s official name.

The United States said in March it had new information that Russia was actively seeking additional weapons from North Korea in return for food aid.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia has long maintained its refusal to increase pressure on North Korea, which is subject to several sanctions imposed by both the United Nations and the West over its nuclear program.