Ramifications of Russia’s illicit arms deal with North Korea

The United States and its partners condemned arms transfers between Russia and North Korea.

A joint statement issued by the United States and its allies condemned arms transfers between Russia and North Korea.

The statement pointed to Russia’s acquisition of North Korean ballistic missiles and their use against Ukraine on December 30 and January 2, as reported by Reuters.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with President Vladimir Putin in Russia last September, and there have been several visits by senior Russian officials to Pyongyang.

Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of this pact for global security.

Experts suggest that it could escalate tensions in the already volatile Korean Peninsula, impacting neighbouring countries and raising the risk of conflict.

Recently declassified intelligence cited by the White House revealed that Russia utilised short-range ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea for multiple strikes against Ukraine.

The joint statement expressed deep concerns about the security implications of this cooperation in Europe, on the Korean Peninsula, across the Indo-Pacific region, and globally.

Signed by the U.S., the UK, the EU, Australia, Germany, Canada, and nearly 40 other partner nations, it strongly condemned North Korea’s export and Russia’s procurement of ballistic missiles.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded with “No comment” when asked about the accusations during a call with reporters.

Such a partnership would undoubtedly raise alarm bells among world leaders, as it poses a significant threat to the delicate balance of power in the region.