The United States has information that North Korea has transferred to Russia a certain batch of ballistic missiles and launchers that Russian troops have already used to strike Ukraine.
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council, stated this at a briefing on January 4.
“On December 30, 2023, Russian forces launched at least one North Korean ballistic missile at Ukraine. This missile apparently hit an open field in the Zaporizhzhia region.”
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council
On January 2, 2024, Russia launched a series of North Korean missiles at Ukraine, and experts are still assessing the consequences of this attack.
Kirby recalled the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, which the parties agreed on last year, and the evidence of the transfer of artillery and other shells that the White House has already published. He claimed also that North Korea expects to acquire from Russian advanced military technology, including fighter jets.
“Our information indicates that the DPRK has recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles.”
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council
According to the White House spokesman, Russia is likely to increasingly use North Korean ballistic missiles to kill innocent civilians in Ukraine in the future.
“These DPRK missiles are capable of hitting targets at a distance of approximately 900 kilometers. This is a significant and worrisome escalation of the DPRK’s support for Russia.”
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council
This is a significant and concerning escalation of North Korea’s support for Russia, the White House spokesman said. John Kirby emphasized that Ukraine needs more military aid from the US, especially air defense systems, to repel Russian missile attacks.
The White House representative noted that in exchange for ballistic missiles, Pyongyang wants to receive fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production facilities, and advanced military technologies from Russia.
North Korea and Russia have recently intensified their cooperation. According to South Korean military intelligence, the DPRK has provided Russia with more than a million artillery shells for use in Putin’s war against Ukraine.
