Russian Defense Forces Encourage Sales of Shells in Commemoration of Victory Day
Concerns arise over the potential transfer of nuclear weapons technology in exchange for arms
US Seeks to Halt Violations of Security Council Resolutions
In a rare disclosure, the United States has publicly shared details about the personal correspondence between the leaders of North Korea and Russia, highlighting their involvement in illicit arms trade. John Kirby, the White House National Security Council (NSC) Strategic Communications Coordinator, revealed during a telephone briefing that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea during the ‘Victory Day’ celebrations in July. Kirby stated that the purpose of Shoigu’s visit was to persuade North Korea to sell shells to Russia. As a result of this visit, both North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters, pledging to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Follow-up discussions on the arms trade then took place between North Korea and Russia, with negotiations regarding various types of ammunition. The Russian army stands to benefit significantly from this potential deal.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Kremlin Palace, acknowledged the strong ties between Russia and North Korea, emphasizing their mutual respect and the desire for further development. However, he did not directly confirm the exchange of letters between President Putin and Chairman Kim Jong-un. This is not the first time the United States has taken action against arms trade between North Korea and Russia. Nevertheless, the revelation of the letter exchange implies a warning about North Korea becoming a logistical base for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. This development is particularly significant as China is hesitant to provide weapons to Russia amid ongoing tensions between the United States and China. Furthermore, the North Korea-Russia arms trade defies the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Yet, given Russia’s permanent membership in the Security Council, effective measures for imposing sanctions are limited.
Moreover, there are concerns that through this arms trade, North Korea may gain access to crucial technology for nuclear and missile development, which Russia possesses.
In response to these revelations, the ambassadors of South Korea, the United States, and Japan issued a joint statement at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, urging an immediate end to these talks. They emphasized that the arms trade between North Korea and Russia blatantly violates Security Council resolutions.
By Lee Jae-yeon, Washington Correspondent
Russian Defense Forces Persuade Shell Sales During Victory Day
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Concern over the transfer of nuclear weapons technology to Russia in return
US Calls for Stopping Violations of Security Council Resolutions
The United States made an unprecedented public disclosure of information regarding the exchange of personal letters between the leaders of North Korea and Russia strongly warning about arms trade between the two countries.
White House National Security Council (NSC) Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby gave a telephone briefing on the 30th (local time) about the North Korea-Russia arms deal negotiations, and said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea during the ‘Victory Day’ in North Korea in July “It was to persuade North Korea to sell shells to Russia,” he said. “After Shoigu’s visit, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters and promised to strengthen bilateral cooperation,” he said. He added that another group visited Pyongyang for follow-up talks on arms deals between North Korea and Russia.
“Depending on the arms deal (discussion), the Russian army can receive a significant amount of ammunition from North Korea and different types of ammunition,” he said.
Regarding this, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin Palace, said that day, “Russia and North Korea maintain good relations that respect each other, and we want to develop them further. Relations take place on different levels.” However, spokesman Peskov did not separately confirm the exchange of letters between President Putin and Chairman Kim Jong-un.
This is not the first time the United States has cracked down on the arms trade between North Korea and Russia. However, the indiscriminate disclosure of the exchange of letters between the two countries appears to be a warning about the emergence of North Korea as a logistics base for Russia in the war with Ukraine at a time when China is hesitant to provide weapons to Russia in in the middle of the conflict between the United States and China. The North Korea-Russia arms trade is against the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, but as a North Korean ballistic missile provocation, there are few effective methods of sanctions given that Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council.
On the one hand, North Korea is concerned that it could acquire new technology necessary for nuclear and missile development from Russia in exchange for weapons.
The ambassadors of Korea, the United States and Japan to the United Nations issued a joint statement at United Nations Headquarters in New York shortly after the White House’s announcement that day and called for an end to the talks, saying, “The arms trade between North Korea and Russia is against the Security Council resolution. “
Washington Correspondent Lee Jae-yeon
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