White House Says Russia Is Looking For Additional Ammunition From North Korea For Military Operations In Ukraine

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

JAKARTA - A senior White House official on Thursday said the United States had new information regarding Russia's activities in a bid to get additional ammunition from North Korea on the battlefield, in exchange for food assistance.

"We remain concerned that North Korea will provide further support to Russia's military operations against Ukraine," said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

"And we have new information that Russia is actively trying to get additional ammunition from North Korea," Kirby continued.

Kirby's comments came after the United States imposed sanctions on a Slovak man for trying to regulate the sale of more than two dozen types of North Korean weapons and ammunition to Russia, to help Moscow replace lost military equipment in its war with Ukraine.

"We also understand that Russia is trying to send a delegation to North Korea and that Russia is offering North Korea food in exchange for ammunition," Kirby said.

Kirby further emphasized that any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would violate a series of UN Security Council resolutions.

Kirby also noted North Korea's recent statement that it would not give or sell weapons to Russia.

"We continue to monitor this closely," he added.