White House: North Korea supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers

(Patria) - North Korea recently supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers for use in Moscow's war against Ukraine, some of which Russia has fired at Ukraine, the White House announced, citing recently declassified intelligence, Reuters reported.

National Security Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the United States would monitor developments with the United Nations Security Council. Kirby called North Korea's arms transfer to Russia a "significant and concerning escalation" and said the United States would impose additional sanctions on those facilitating arms deals.

"Our information indicates that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently supplied Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," Kirby said.

In recent days, he said, "Russian forces have launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine," adding that it appeared to have landed in an open field.

Kirby said Iran has not supplied ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington believes Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran.