US imposes sanctions over transfer of North Korean missiles to Russia
Al Jazeera
Measures target three Russian entities, one individual. US State Department says missiles for use in Ukraine war.
The United States has imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one individual allegedly involved in the transfer and testing of North Korea’s ballistic missiles for alleged use by Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
The move comes after Washington and its allies criticised the exchange of arms between North Korea and Russia. The US government denounced Russia’s acquisition of North Korean ballistic missiles and specified they were deployed against Ukraine on December 30 and January 2.
“The DPRK’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia supports Russia’s war of aggression, increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and undermines the global nonproliferation regime,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Thursday, using the official acronym for North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“We will not hesitate to take further actions,” he said.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Moscow and Pyongyang have developed closer ties but have denied engaging in any arms deals.
