White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby. Source : Picryl
The Wagner Group, a Russian military force, have bought weapons from North Korea to allegedly expand their role in the war against Ukraine.
The U.S. report found the group were delivered arms from North Korea, with White House National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, stating the group was searching form arms suppliers to support their operations.
“We can confirm that North Korea has completed an initial arms delivery to Wagner, which paid for the equipment.” Mr Kirby said.
“Last month, North Korea delivered infantry rockets and missiles into Russia for use by Wagner.”
The U.S. have expressed their concern over North Korea’s possible continued involvement in supplying arms to the Wagner Group and Russia.
Wagner Group owner Yevgeny Prigozhin denied this, stating it is “gossip and speculation”.
“Everyone knows that North Korea has not been supplying any weapons to Russia for a long time.” Mr Prigozhin said.
“No such efforts have even been made.” He said.
Japanese media broke the story last week, with the U.S. confirming the report.
A North Korean foreign military spokesperson denied the reports in a report by North Korea’s KCNA news.
“The Japanese media’s false report that the DPRK offered munitions to Russia is the most absurd red herring, which is not work any comment or interpretation.” They said.
“The DPRK has already and clearly warned that such foolish attempt of the US may entail a very undesirable consequence.” The North Korean spokesperson said in a separate statement.
North Korea has called the U.S. statement a “very dangerous act” which requires North Korea to “counter with action”.
The Wagner Group was founded in 2014 after Russia seized the Crimea Peninsula in Ukraine.
The U.S. has estimated that the Wagner Group has 50,000 personnel currently deployed to fight in Ukraine, with around 40,000 of them allegedly being convicts recruited from Russian prisons.
The U.S. has stated the amount of material delivered from North Korea is not likely to change Ukrainian battlefield dynamics.
