White House Says North Korea Supplying Artillery Bullets To Russia For War In Ukraine

John Kirby. (Wikimedia Commons/Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)

JAKARTA - White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday the United States had information showing North Korea was secretly supplying Russia with "significant" artillery shells for the war in Ukraine.

Kirby said at the virtual briefing, North Korea was trying to obscure shipments by channeling them through countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

"Our indication is that the DPRK is quietly supplying and we will monitor to see if the shipment has been received," Kirby said, adding that Washington would consult with the United Nations on the issue of liability for the shipment.

DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

"We have a feeling where they are going to transfer these bullets," Kirby said, but declined to provide further details as the United States weighed his possible options.

Kirby said the number of bullets was insignificant, and unlikely to change the momentum or outcome of the war. However, the bullet could still be lethal to Ukraine, he said.

"And that certainly won't change our calculus. Or with so many of our allies and partners about the kind of capabilities we will continue to provide Ukraine," he said.

Kirby said the North Korean shipment was not only a sign of Pyongyang's willingness to support Russia, but also Moscow's shortage of ammunition caused by US-led sanctions and export controls.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Ned Price told a news conference that sanctions were an option, as was the case in the case of supplying Iranian weapons to Russia.

"Just as we use every tool and will use every tool to counter Iran's supply of weapons to Russia, we will do the same when it comes to the supply of DPRK weapons to Russia," he said.

"There are sanctions that are on the books. We will look at additional tools and authorities we may be able to call upon to counter this activity," said Price.

The United States in September imposed sanctions on an Iranian company accused of coordinating military flights to transport Iranian drones to Russia and three other companies it said were involved in Iranian drone production.

Earlier, North Korea in September said it had never supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia, had no plans to do so, while warning the United States to "shut up" and stop spreading rumors aimed at "tarnishing" the country's image.