The United States issued a warning to North Korea on Tuesday, saying it would face consequences if it supplied weapons to Russia for its role in the conflict in Ukraine. This comes while leaders Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin are expected to hold talks on this matter.
Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, said Pyongyang and Moscow are considering “leadership-level talks, perhaps even face-to-face,” about Russia’s arms needs.
Sullivan indicated that Russia could use North Korean weapons to attack Ukrainian food supplies and heating infrastructure, with the goal of “conquering territory that belongs to another sovereign nation.”
Warning of “active discussions” between Moscow and Pyongyang over arms deliveries, Sullivan said North Korea would pay a price in the international community for its involvement in such deals.
Washington believes that Kim Jong Un intends to visit Russia to discuss with Vladimir Putin the sale of North Korean arms for the conflict in Ukraine.
Last week, John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, expressed alarm at the rapid progress of these negotiations and ordered North Korea to “cease” these discussions.
Sullivan acknowledged that he had no information on what types of weapons would be delivered but stressed that he “says a lot about Russia having to turn to a country like North Korea to bolster its defense capabilities.”
The United States and other countries have raised concerns about these secret talks between Russia and North Korea. Kim is considered likely to travel to Vladivostok later this month to meet Putin. The matter is surrounded by anticipation, and President Biden plans to reaffirm his support for Ukraine during the G20 summit in India.