North Korea Denies Supplying Weapons Or Ammunition To Russia

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/John Pavelka)

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

"Recently, the US and other enemy forces have been talking about 'violations' of UNSC resolutions, spreading 'rumors of the arms trade' between the DPRK and Russia. We have never exported weapons or ammunition to Russia before and we will not plan to export them," he said. KCNA quoted the deputy director general of the General Bureau of Equipment of the North Korean Ministry of National Defense in a statement.

Earlier this month, deputy US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Russia "is in the process of purchasing millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for use in Ukraine."

Calling it a "potential purchase", White House national security spokesman John Kirby later clarified, "there is no indication that the purchase has been completed and certainly no indication that the weapons are being used inside Ukraine."

The United States also accuses Iran of supplying drones to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine, which Tehran denies.

Russia has also denied the allegations and demanded the United States provide evidence.

However, Russia and North Korea are known to have recently discussed their relationship.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un the two countries would "expand comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with joint efforts," in a letter sent for Korea Liberation Day.

Meanwhile, Leader Kim also sent a letter to President Putin saying the "strategic and tactical cooperation, support and solidarity" between the two countries had reached a new level, amid their joint efforts to thwart threats and provocations from "hostile military forces".