WASHINGTON – Russia has used North Korean missiles to attack targets in Ukraine in recent weeks, and more ballistic missiles from Iran have dried up as funding for the United States to provide further military aid to Ukraine dries up. US officials said Thursday that they are in talks to secure the weapons.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House that Russia has fired North Korean rockets into Ukraine at least twice in recent weeks as it seeks to strengthen ties with other U.S. adversaries. He said he did.
“Because of our sanctions and export restrictions, Russia is increasingly isolated on the world stage and forced to rely on like-minded countries for military equipment,” he said. “One of those countries is North Korea, as we have publicly warned.”
Kirby said North Korea's missiles could reach targets up to 550 miles away and called the attack a “serious and alarming escalation.” [North Korea’s] Support Russia. ”
Russia launched the first North Korean missile on December 30th. This came a day after Russia launched 122 missiles and 36 drones in what Ukraine called the largest airstrike of the war. At least one of the birds landed in a field in the Zaporizhzhya region of southeastern Ukraine, Kirby said.
And on January 2, the Kremlin sent “multiple” North Korean missiles into Ukraine “as part of a nighttime air attack” that day, Kirby said. The United States is still assessing the impact of these attacks.
“We hope that Russia and North Korea will learn from these launches and that Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine and kill innocent Ukrainian civilians,” he said. I expect that.”
In return, Kirby said, North Korea is seeking military aid from Russia, “including fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile manufacturing equipment and materials, and other advanced technology.”
“This will have worrying implications for the security of the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russia is also in talks with the mullahs in Tehran to acquire short-range ballistic missiles for use against Kiev. Although the United States assesses that Iran has not yet delivered these weapons, negotiations are “progressing aggressively,” Kirby said.
Iran has sent hundreds of attack drones to Russia, which Moscow relies heavily on as its own stockpile dwindles. Iran has not yet launched a missile, but Russia has been aiming to do so since at least November of this year.
Recent exchanges between the two countries suggest they are close to an agreement. For example, in mid-December, Iran's Revolutionary Guards “deployed ballistic missiles and missile support systems to a training range in Iran for display to a visiting Russian delegation,” Kirby said.
With Congress currently deadlocked over an additional funding bill that would provide $61.4 billion to Ukraine in its current form, Washington is seeking additional military equipment for Ukraine as Russia looks to like-minded friends for help. There is a lack of funds to provide soldiers and weapons.
“Russia is relying on its friends to replenish its military stockpile and enable war against Ukraine,” Kirby said. “Iran and [North Korea] Ukrainians have a right to know that the American people and this government remain with them. ”
Although the Biden administration has formally authorized Congress to send an additional $4.2 billion worth of military aid from the stockpile, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that there is no actual plan for further aid packages. He said there were no funds available to pay.
“When I went on vacation here, I didn’t have any replenishment funds.” [for DoD stockpiles,]” he said. “So for now, I'm not expecting anything new.” [military aid package] That's why we continue to work closely with Congress and urge them to pass additional legislation. ”
Kirby said that following the recent missile launches, the US government plans to raise the issue with the UN Security Council and “demand that Russia be held accountable for once again violating its international obligations.”
The Biden administration also said it would “impose additional sanctions against those who seek to facilitate arms transfers to and from Russia.” [North Korea] He added that “the relationship between Russia and Iran” is “in direct violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
