The White House released satellite images of an arms trade between North Korea and Russia, calling for an immediate halt. It was also made clear that measures would be sought at the level of the United Nations Security Council. Reporter Park Hyung-joo reports.
The White House released satellite images on the 20th that captured the situation where North Korea was delivering weapons to the Wagner Group, a private Russian mercenary company.
John Kirby, the White House National Security Council (NSC) Strategic Communications Coordinator said in a briefing that day that Russia would continue to support Russian military operations against Ukraine by providing arms and ammunition to Wagner, anticipating additional sanctions against Wagner for aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine. He said he would also comment on North Korea.
[녹취: 커비 조정관] “I also want to discuss a little bit of North Korea’s continued support of Russia’s military operations against Ukraine by providing weapons and ammunition to Wagner, partly because of our sanctions and export controls, Russia is looking for weapons from foreign countries including through Wagner. In recent weeks, we have seen North Korean officials falsely deny that they provided weapons to Wagner. As we have publicly stated, North Korea delivered infantry rockets and missiles to Russia for use by Bogner towards the end of last year. So today we’re releasing some images from this initial presentation.”
“In recent weeks we have seen North Korean officials falsely deny that they provided arms to Wagner,” Kirby said.
“However, as we have said publicly, North Korea delivered rockets and infantry missiles to Russia for Wagner’s use at the end of last year,” he said, presenting satellite images that captured the situation.
Previously, the White House announced on December 22 last year that North Korea had completed the delivery of the first weapon to be used by the Wagner Group, and that the Wagner Group had paid for the weapons to North Korea.
Regarding this, the North Korean side and Wagner’s side have denied it, saying it is not true.
Then, the White House released a satellite image of the arms transfer situation and even a specific date this time.
The satellite images released by the White House are two black-and-white photos of a train leaving Russia and arriving in North Korea on November 18, respectively.
Regarding the satellite image, Coordinator Kirby said, “It shows a five-car Russian train moving from Russia to North Korea on November 18.” I went back to Russia,” he said.
[녹취: 커비 조정관] “These images show that five Russian rail cars traveled from Russia to North Korea on 18 November. And the next day, November 19th, North Korea loaded those rail cars with shipping containers, and the train returned to Russia. Although we assess that the amount of material delivered to Wagner has not changed the dynamics of the battlefield in Ukraine, we expect that it will continue to receive North Korean weapons systems. We clearly condemn the actions of North Korea and we urge North Korea to immediately stop these deliveries to Wagner.”
“We estimate that the amount of material distributed to the Wagner group has not changed the dynamics of the battlefield in Ukraine,” he said.
“However, we expect Wagner to continue receiving North Korean weapons systems,” Kirby said.
It was also made clear that measures would be sought at the level of the United Nations Security Council in relation to these arms trades.
[녹취: 커비 조정관] “As we have previously noted the arms transfers from the DPRK are in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions. So today we shared information about these crimes with the DPRK sanctions committee expert panel of the Security Council. we will continue to raise these crimes in the Security Council alongside our allies and partners.
“We have been saying that arms transfers from North Korea are in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions,” said Coordinator Kirby.
“We will continue to raise these crimes in the Security Council, together with our allies and partners,” he said.
Asked about specific sanctions, he said he had “nothing to announce today” and would “see how the discussion develops.”
“We will not rule out the possibility of additional sanctions if deemed appropriate within the United Nations,” he added.
Kirby’s co-ordinator announced that he would designate Wagner a “serious transnational criminal organization” and would impose additional sanctions next week.
This is VOA News Park’s Hyeong-joo.
