North Korea denies that it supports Russia with weapons
North Korea has called "baseless" the United States' claim that Pyongyang is secretly supplying Russia with ammunition for its war against Ukraine. The information is reported by AFP with reference to the Korean Central News Agency.
Pyongyang called the information about the arms supply rumors and an "enemy attempt" by America to tarnish North Korea's image in the international arena.
"Recently, the United States has persistently spread baseless 'arms trade lies' between North Korea and Russia," said Ri Yong-gil, North Korea's defense minister.
On November 2, CNN, citing US officials, reported that Pyongyang has secretly supplied weapons to Russia, but tried to hide the facts and give the impression that the ammunition is being sent to North Africa or the Middle East.
The North Korean weapons information was made public days after Russia received the first shipments of Iranian drones. US government officials have said Moscow's decision to turn to Iran and North Korea is evidence that sanctions and export controls are hurting Russia's ability to obtain supplies for its military.
The US National Security Council has said that Iran and North Korea's support "will not change the course of the war" and the United States will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine. But these deliveries could boost an important part of Russia's war effort: a brutal front-line artillery battle.
US officials have said they will seek to expose and counter shipments to Russia from Iran and North Korea and target the networks that enable it.
