The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated on Friday that her country has not exported any weapons to Russia, dismissing outside speculation on North Korea-Russian arms dealings as “the most absurd paradox.”
The U.S., South Korea, and other nations have consistently accused North Korea of supplying artillery, missiles, and other conventional weapons to Russia for its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, purportedly in exchange for advanced military technologies and economic assistance. However, both North Korea and Russia have repeatedly denied these allegations.
According to foreign experts, North Korea’s recent series of artillery and short-range missile tests were possibly intended to showcase or test the weapons it planned to sell to Russia.
Kim Yo Jong dismissed external assessments of North Korean-Russian dealings as the most absurd paradox, unworthy of any evaluation or interpretation.
She stated that North Korea’s recent weapons trials were solely conducted as components of the nation’s five-year plan for bolstering its military capabilities, initiated in 2021. Additionally, she mentioned that the weapons tested recently are intended for targeting Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
The Unification Ministry of South Korea has issued a response, stating that it is fully prepared to counter any military threats from North Korea, in accordance with its military alliance with the United States. Kim Inae, the Deputy Ministry Spokesperson, emphasized the need to immediately halt the “illegal” arms transactions between North Korea and Russia. It is important to note that any trade of weapons with North Korea would be a clear violation of several U.N. Security Council resolutions, which Russia, as a permanent member of the council, has previously supported.
In March, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik disclosed that North Korea had dispatched approximately 7,000 containers containing munitions and other military gear to Russia since the previous year. Conversely, Shin stated that North Korea had received over 9,000 Russian containers, presumably filled with aid, in return.
In January, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, reported that missiles supplied by North Korea had been deployed in Ukraine. Concurrently, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that an examination of missile debris found in the north-eastern Kharkiv region indicated its likely origin to be North Korea.
By May, the White House also alleged that Russia was transporting refined petroleum to North Korea, surpassing the limits set by the U.N. Security Council. The growing relationship between North Korea and Russia occurs amid ongoing tensions with the United States. North Korea faces scrutiny over its advancing nuclear program, while Russia is embroiled in a prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
Since 2022, North Korea has conducted a series of provocative missile tests, prompting the U.S. to expand military exercises with South Korea and Japan. Experts suggest that North Korea likely believes that bolstering its weapons arsenal will enhance its bargaining power in future negotiations with the United States.
