US Expresses Great Concern Over Russia-North Korea Military Alliance

The Biden administration expressed great concern on Monday about Russia’s deepening military alliance with North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit Pyongyang on Tuesday for the first time since 2000 to meet with dictator Kim Jong-Un and discuss expanding military cooperation between the two countries. It has been reported that North Korea has sent over 11,000 containers of conventional weapons to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, with Russia utilizing ballistic missiles made in North Korea. In return, North Korea is seeking fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, and missile production equipment from Russia.

During Monday’s press briefing, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated, “We believe that deepening cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is something that should be of great concern to anyone interested in peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, upholding the global nonproliferation regime, abiding by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and supporting the people of Ukraine in their defense against Russia’s invasion.”

DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official name of Communist North Korea.

Miller also highlighted the unlawful transfer of ballistic missiles and munitions from North Korea to aid Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, emphasizing the threat these weapons pose. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby echoed these concerns during Monday’s White House press briefing, emphasizing the potential impact on both Ukraine and security on the Korean Peninsula.