North Korea denies arms supplies to Russia

North Korea says it has never supplied weapons to Russia and has no intentions to do so in the future, according to the country’s state media.

That’s according to a report by NBC referring to Reuters, as seen by Ukrinform.

The statement came after the United States accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery shells to be used in its war against Ukraine.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said last week the United States has information that indicates North Korea is covertly supplying Russia with a “significant” number of artillery shells.

Kirby said the DPRK was attempting to obscure the shipments by funnelling them through the Middle East and North Africa.

A North Korean defense official decried the allegations as a rumor, noting that Pyongyang has “never had ‘arms dealings’ with Russia” and has “no plan to do so in the future.”

“We regard such moves of the U.S. as part of its hostile attempt to tarnish the image of the DPRK in the international arena by invoking the illegal ‘sanctions resolution’ of the (U.N. Security Council) against the DPRK,” the official said.

According to the report, any arms supplies would further testify to the deepening of Moscow’s ties with Pyongyang amid Russia’s growing isolation over its war in Ukraine.

North Korea was among those few nations who recognized the independence of Russia’s puppet “republics” in eastern Ukraine, the “LPR” and “DPR,” also voicing support for the claimed annexation of Ukrainian territories by Russia.