North Korean Military Officials Criticize US Increase Military Aid To Ukraine

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JAKARTA - A top North Korean military official criticized the United States (US) for expanding its military aid to Ukraine.

The official reaffirmed the country's support for Moscow in the Ukraine war, according to state media KCNA.

Washington and Seoul are known to be increasingly concerned about the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and accuse them of violating international law by trading weapons for Russia to use against Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang denied any arms transfers.

The agreement pact signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Putin's visit to Pyongyang last week required each side to immediately provide military assistance to each other in the event of armed aggression against one of them.

Analysts say the agreement will provide a framework for arms trafficking between the two countries and facilitate anti-US attitudes and the anti-Western coalition.

Pak Jong Chon, one of North Korea's top military officials, said Russia had the right to choose any kind of retaliatory attack in a statement broadcast by KCNA.

He said if Washington continued to push Ukraine to carry out a 'proxicution war' against Russia, it could trigger stronger responses from Moscow, and the occurrence of a "new world war".

He referred to Pentagon comments last week that Ukrainian troops could use US-backed weapons to attack Russian troops wherever they cross the border to Russia.

Senior South Korean, United States and Japan officials have criticized the loud' deepening of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia in a joint statement issued by the Seoul Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Putin's joint defense agreement with North Korea has the potential to create a dispute with China, which has long been the main ally of the isolated country, top US military officer said on Sunday, June 23.

North Korea plans to send construction and engineering troops to Russia's occupied Ukrainian territory early next month for rebuilding work, South Korean cable TV network TV Chosun reported earlier, citing a South Korean government official.