Kim Jong Un's North Korea's Secretive Arms Negotiations With Russia Raise Concerns, Says White House

The Biden administration has raised concerns about recent intelligence indicating ongoing arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea, which could potentially breach U.N Security Council resolutions.

What Happened: As reported by The Hill on Wednesday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby revealed that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are progressing.

Pyongyang was warned against providing military support to Russia for its Ukraine war, as it would violate several U.N. Security Council resolutions. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on entities and individuals linked to weapon transfers from North Korea to Russia’s mercenary army, the Wagner Group.

Although North Korea’s direct supply to Russia’s armed forces hasn’t been observed, Kirby expressed concern over the possibility of Pyongyang providing military support to Russia. He urged North Korea to stop arms negotiations with Russia and uphold the commitment not to sell arms to Russia.

“We're continuing to monitor this situation closely and we urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia and abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia," Kirby said. 

Without divulging the intelligence-gathering process, Kirby mentioned secretive arms negotiations building upon Russia and North Korea’s public support.

This includes a recent pledge to deepen bilateral cooperation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion and occupation of Ukraine enters its 19th month, the latter is looking to North Korea to replenish its artillery supplies. The situation is being closely monitored by the U.S., Kirby added.

See Also: Jamie Raskin Says Donald Trump ‘Absolutely’ Disqualified From White House Race Under 14th Amendment

Why It Matters: In November 2022, North Korea refuted claims of supplying weapons to Russia. However, the Biden administration has been voicing concerns over potential deals between between the two nations, particularly with North Korea’s worsening food crisis in March 2023.

In August, the U.S. expressed further concerns over increasing military cooperation between the two countries. Given these developments, the latest intelligence about ongoing negotiations is particularly alarming.

Photo by Alexander Khitrov on Shutterstock

Read Next: Trump Says This GOP Rival Would Be ‘Very Good’ For VP Role