U.S. Says North Korea Secretly Shipping Ammunition to Russia For War In Ukraine

The White House on Wednesday accused North Korea of secretly sending Russia a 'significant number' of artillery shells to help in its war in Ukraine, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

“We’re not talking dozens here. It’s a significant number of artillery shells,” National Security Council's John Kirby told reporters on a conference call.

The Biden administration believes Pyongyang is “covertly supplying” Moscow and trying to make it appear as though the shells are being sent to countries in the Middle East or North Africa.

Kirby did not provide a specific quantity of shells believed to be shipped or how they were being transported but said that U.S. officials are watching to see whether the shipments are received. 

In the meantime, he made it clear that the secret shipments are “a sign of not only the degree to which North Korea is willing to continue to bolster support for Russia but a sign of Russia’s own defense articles shortages and needs.”

U.S. officials in early September revealed that Moscow was in the process of requesting millions of rockets and artillery shells from Pyongyang, a sign that the Kremlin is suffering from “severe” military supply shortages.

Kirby stressed that the North Korean artillery shells are “not going to change the course of this war,” pointing to the West’s own efforts to supply Ukraine with military aid in the fight.

Meanwhile, the States State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Washington will do "everything possible" to counter the DPRK provisions of weapons to Russia.

North Korea has hidden the “real destination of arms shipments by trying to make it appear as though they’re being sent to countries in the Middle East or North Africa,” Price said during his daily press briefing.

He also called on all responsible countries, especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to fully enforce existing sanctions.

Putin's Russia has become increasingly reliant on outside weapons sources, including Iran and North Korea.

Washington sees this outsourcing as a mark of desperation as Russia’s position on the battlefield continues to deteriorate.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.