US: North Korea Sells Rockets and Missiles to Russian Mercenary Company

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] It has been confirmed that North Korea sold weapons to the Russian private military company Wagner Group, which is assisting Russia in its war in Ukraine.

According to the White House, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council (NSC), announced during a phone briefing on the 22nd (local time), "North Korea delivered infantry rockets and missiles for use by the Wagner Group to Russia last month. The first shipment of weapons has been completed."

Coordinator Kirby stated, "The weapons delivered by North Korea will not change the course of the war in Ukraine," but added, "We are concerned that North Korea plans to supply additional military equipment." He further urged, "North Korea must immediately cease all weapon deliveries to the Wagner Group." The U.S. has been wary of North Korea’s efforts to sell weapons to Russia amid the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine. Last month, the U.S. disclosed intelligence indicating that a significant amount of artillery shells were being supplied to Russia disguised as shipments to Middle Eastern or North African countries.

The Wagner Group, led by a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a mercenary company supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. The U.S. currently estimates that the Wagner Group has deployed a total of 50,000 mercenaries, including prisoners, to Ukraine. Coordinator Kirby reported, "As the Russian military struggles in Ukraine, President Putin is increasingly relying on the Wagner Group," and noted that the Wagner Group plays a significant role in the Battle of Bakhmut, the largest battleground on the eastern front of Ukraine. Following the U.S.’s recent tightening of export controls on the Wagner Group, additional sanctions are expected to be announced soon.

On the same day, Coordinator Kirby also pointed out that North Korea’s weapon sales violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. He emphasized, "North Korean government officials have publicly stated they would not support Russia’s war in Ukraine, but they delivered weapons to the Wagner Group. This is a violation of Security Council resolutions," and added, "We will raise the issue of North Korea’s violations of sanctions at the Security Council together with our allies and partner countries."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the U.S. Department of State designated 10 Russian defense companies as sanctions targets for contributing to Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports. The sanctions targets include the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This action came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who visited the U.S. the previous day, called for increased sanctions against Russia.