North Korea would "pay a price" if it provides weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, a top US official said Tuesday as Washington monitored the two nations' arms talks.
According to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, there is no evidence that North Korea is currently sending weapons to Russia, but arms talks between the two nations are "actively advancing."
According to Mr. Sullivan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited to Pyongyang in late July "to ask for weapons" from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
He went on to say that Mr. Kim may be awaiting "in-person leader-level discussions" with Russia over their arms agreement, but he couldn't give a timetable.
“I can’t get into all the details of what we know. But at the broad parameters, that is what we are seeing: ongoing discussions and discussions where we have information that the leadership of North Korea sees this as potentially leading to leader-level engagement,” he told reporters.
The Kremlin has declined to comment on a prospective meeting between Mr. Kim and President Vladimir Putin in the near future.
On July 25, Mr. Shoigu paid a visit to North Korea to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Following the conclusion of his tour, a Russian Air Force jet was seen departing Moscow on July 31 and landing in Pyongyang, where it remained for roughly 36 hours.
According to Mr. Sullivan, Moscow is seeking North Korean assistance because "we have continued to squeeze Russia's defense industrial base, and they are now going about looking to whatever source they can find for things like artillery ammunition."
Providing Russia with weaponry for its current conflict with Ukraine "is not going to reflect well on North Korea, and they will pay a price for this in the international community," the US source warned.
He did not define the potential consequences for North Korea, but he did state that the US will retain sanctions to obstruct Russia's supply of armaments. North Korea has been sanctioned by the United Nations since 2006 for its nuclear weapons program.
“We have continued to convey privately as well as publicly to the North Koreans—and asked allies and partners to do the same—our view that they should abide by their publicly stated commitments that they’re not going to provide these weapons,” Mr. Sullivan said.
Russia's conflict in Ukraine, which has been going on since February of last year, has resulted in limited ammunition supplies in both nations, and the US is afraid that North Korea may transfer weapons to Russia.
According to John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, Moscow is looking for "significant quantities and multiple types of munitions" and "raw materials" for its military-industrial base, as well as "electronic components" for use in military systems.
“We will continue to identify, expose, and counter Russian attempts to acquire military equipment from [North Korea] or, frankly, any other state that is prepared to support its war in Ukraine,” he said.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have disputed prior US charges that North Korea transferred weaponry to Russia, while both have agreed to increase defense cooperation.
Mr. Shoigu stated on Monday that Russia is in discussions with North Korea about prospective joint military exercises.
Mr. Shoigu may have offered that North Korea participate in trilateral military drills with China, according to South Korea's intelligence service. It is unknown if North Korea accepted the offer.
Alexander Matsegora, Russia's ambassador to North Korea, told Russia's state news agency TASS that he was unaware of any plans for North Korea to participate in trilateral military drills with China and Russia, but that it would be "appropriate" in light of US-led exercises in the region.
