N. Korea says it has never supplied weapons to Russia

North Korea on Thursday said it has never supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia and has no plans to do so, while warning the United States to "keep its mouth shut" and stop circulating rumours aimed at "tarnishing" the country's image.

"Recently, the US and other hostile forces talked about the 'violation of a resolution' of the UNSC, spreading a 'rumour of arms dealings' between the DPRK and Russia ... We have never exported weapons or ammunition to Russia before and we will not plan to export them," KCNA quoted the country's vice director general of the General Bureau of Equipment of the Ministry of National Defence as saying in a statement, without naming the official.

US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel earlier this month said that 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 spokesperson John Kirby later clarified that there were "no indications that purchase has been completed and certainly no indications that those weapons are being used inside of Ukraine".

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

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

Russia and North Korea have recently talked up their ties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un the two countries will "expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts," in a letter sent for Korea's liberation day.

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

Ukraine, which is resisting a Russian invasion described by Moscow as a "special military operation", severed relations with Pyongyang after the reclusive nation in July recognised two Russian-backed breakaway "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine as independent states.

More from International News

  • Israeli attacks on Gaza killed 60 people in 24 hours

    Israeli occupation forces committed multiple massacres against families in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, resulting in the killing of at least 60 Palestinians and the injury of 162 others, according to medical reports.

  • Trump fires National Security Agency director

    U.S. President Donald Trump fired General Timothy Haugh as director of the National Security Agency on Thursday, according to two officials familiar with the decision, and congressional Democrats denounced the removal of the nonpartisan official from a top security post.

  • Israel steps up Syria strikes, says Turkey aims for 'protectorate'

    Israel stepped up airstrikes on Syria, declaring the attacks a warning to the new rulers in Damascus as it accused their ally Turkey of trying to turn the country into a Turkish protectorate.

  • US sending Israel 20,000 assault rifles that Biden delayed

    The Trump administration moved forward with the sale of more than 20,000 US-made assault rifles to Israel last month, according to a document seen by Reuters, pushing ahead with a sale that the administration of former president Joe Biden had delayed.

Blogs