Several countries, including Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA), have condemned alleged ballistic missile transfers between North Korea and Russia, declaring that they violate United Nations (UN) sanctions. In a joint statement, foreign ministers from 47 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Guatemala, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Guatemala, Japan and South Korea, as well as European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, condemned the alleged arms transfers “in the strongest possible terms”, noting that the weapons in question were used against Ukraine.[i]
“The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of Ukrainian people,” the statement said. It supports Russia’s aggressive war and weakens the global nuclear proliferation regime,” it said, emphasizing that such cooperation would also provide technical and military insights to North Korea. At the same time, the statement said, “We deeply share our concerns about the security implications of this cooperation in Europe, the Korean Peninsula, the Asia-Pacific Region and around the world.”[ii]
In the previous statement, US National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said that Russia is using more North Korean weapons in Ukraine compared to before. He also added that the USA and its allies intend to bring the issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The statement stated that the arms supply and transfer between Pyongyang and Moscow was contrary to a series of UNSC resolutions implemented since 2006 in response to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to answer questions about alleged arms transfers.[iii]
Reports have emerged that Russia is planning to purchase weapons from North Korea for its attack on Ukraine in 2022. In August 2023, US Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Moscow was “evaluating potential agreements for significant amounts and various types of ammunition”.[iv]
Speculation was further fueled when the leaders held a summit the following month at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia’s most important satellite launch center. During this visit, which lasted about five hours, Vladimir Putin took Kim Jong Un on a tour of facilities in eastern Russia and said Moscow would help Pyongyang build satellites. Kim, meanwhile, pledged Russia’s support for a “just struggle”, perceived as a reference to Ukraine.[v]
Just two months later, North Korea announced the successful launch of its first military spy satellite and said it planned to launch three more in 2024. On January 9, 2024, North Korea’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim visited arms factories this week and stressed the “strategic importance of the production of large weapons”.[vi]
The fact that many countries have come together to condemn the alleged ballistic missile transfers between North Korea and Russia shows that the international community tends to stand together against such activities. Bringing these allegations to the UNSC is important to put international law and security mechanisms in place.
The alleged ballistic missile transfers seriously threaten regional security and stability. This raises concern due to the possibility that the weapons could be used against Ukraine and potentially diverted to other regions. Security experts warn that such arms transfers could contribute to regional conflicts and tensions. As a result, North Korea’s arms trade with Russia could undermine efforts to maintain nuclear arms control and non-proliferation. The international community is concerned about North Korea’s non-compliance with previous decisions on its nuclear program and its cooperation with Russia in this regard.
[i] “US, Ukraine, Dozens more Condemn Alleged Russia-North Korea Arms Transfers”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/10/us-ukraine-dozens-more-condemn-alleged-russia-north-korea-arms-transfers, (Date of Accession: 10.01.2024).
[ii] “U.S., Partners Condemn Arms Transfers Between North Korea And Russia”, RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/10/us-ukraine-dozens-more-condemn-alleged-russia-north-korea-arms-transfers, (Date of Accession: 10.01.2024).
[iii] Ibıd.
[iv] Ibıd.
[v] Ibıd.
[vi] Ibıd.
