US accuses North Korea of shipping 1,000 containers of military equipment to Russia

The White House has accused North Korea of transferring more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia, while Pyongyang and Moscow have not commented on the information.

"Our information indicates that in recent weeks, North Korea has provided Russia with more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on October 13.

The White House released images showing that from September 7 to October 1, a series of containers were transported from Najin, North Korea to Dunay, Russia, by the Russian-flagged cargo ship MV Angara. The containers were then transported by rail to an ammunition depot near Tikhoretsk, southwestern Russia, about 290 kilometers from the border with Ukraine.

Image released by the White House on October 13 to reinforce accusations that North Korea supplies weapons to Russia. Photo: AFP — Image released by the White House on October 13 to reinforce accusations that North Korea supplies weapons to Russia. Photo: *AFP*

"We condemn North Korea for providing Russia with military equipment that will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians, and further their illegal war," Kirby said, adding that the US would monitor whether North Korea continued such actions.

North Korea is also seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or advanced materials and technology, US officials said.

Russian and North Korean officials have not commented on the report. Moscow and Pyongyang have repeatedly denied similar accusations from Washington. Russia has called it fake news, while North Korea has accused the US of trying to tarnish its image by "painting things that don't exist."

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby at a press conference on October 11 in Washington. Photo: AFP — White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby at a press conference on October 11 in Washington. Photo: *AFP*

The US accusations come a month after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a six-day visit to Russia at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin leader raised the possibility of Russia conducting military-technical cooperation with North Korea while fully complying with international restrictions.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Pyongyang has strengthened its close ties with Moscow. Pyongyang has repeatedly publicly supported Russia at the United Nations, stressing that the "hegemonic and arbitrary policies" of the US and its Western allies were the cause of the war. North Korea asserted that strengthening cooperation with neighboring Russia is "natural" and "normal."

Nhu Tam (According to AFP, Yonhap )

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