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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russia to offer food for North Korean weapons - US | Russia to offer food for North Korean weapons - US |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un stands in front of a long-range artillery sub-unit this month. It is not known if this is a weapon sought by Russia | North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un stands in front of a long-range artillery sub-unit this month. It is not known if this is a weapon sought by Russia |
| Russia is sending a delegation to North Korea to offer food in exchange for weapons, US national security spokesperson John Kirby has said. | Russia is sending a delegation to North Korea to offer food in exchange for weapons, US national security spokesperson John Kirby has said. |
| Mr Kirby said any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would violate UN Security Council resolutions. | Mr Kirby said any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would violate UN Security Council resolutions. |
| The US has previously accused North Korea of supplying arms to the Russian military in Ukraine and the Wagner group of Russia mercenaries. | The US has previously accused North Korea of supplying arms to the Russian military in Ukraine and the Wagner group of Russia mercenaries. |
| Pyongyang earlier denied the claims. | |
| Mr Kirby told a news conference the US had new information about a deal. | Mr Kirby told a news conference the US had new information about a deal. |
| "We also understand that Russia is seeking to send a delegation in North Korea and that Russia is offering North Korea food in exchange for munitions," he said. | "We also understand that Russia is seeking to send a delegation in North Korea and that Russia is offering North Korea food in exchange for munitions," he said. |
| The security spokesperson said the US was monitoring the situation, and the alleged deal, closely. | |
| North Korea is one of the poorest countries in the world and has experienced chronic food shortages for decades, including a devastating famine in the mid-to-late 1990s. | |
| In February, experts warned the country, which has one of the most authoritarian governments in the world, was facing a critical food crisis due to a significant drop in production - worsened by poor weather, strict border controls and the effect of international sanctions. | |
| Satellite imagery from South Korean authorities shows that the North produced 180,000 tonnes less food in 2022 than in 2021. | |
| Earlier on Thursday, the US Treasury blacklisted a Slovak man in a separate case - for acting as a broker between Russia and North Korea. | |
| The treasury said Ashot Mkrtychev, 56, had arranged sales and organise deals that would enable North Korea to ship weapons to Russia in late 2022 and early 2023. | The treasury said Ashot Mkrtychev, 56, had arranged sales and organise deals that would enable North Korea to ship weapons to Russia in late 2022 and early 2023. |
| In return Pyongyang received cash, commercial aircraft, commodities and raw materials, they said. | In return Pyongyang received cash, commercial aircraft, commodities and raw materials, they said. |
| Featuring on the sanctions blacklist means American businesses cannot have dealings with Mr Mkrtychev, and it freezes his US assets. | Featuring on the sanctions blacklist means American businesses cannot have dealings with Mr Mkrtychev, and it freezes his US assets. |
| Western sanctions have significantly affected Russia's ability to replace used up or destroyed weapons in its war on Ukraine. | |
| The sanctions have prompted Russia to turn to other countries to source weapons. | |
| In December last year the US said Iran had become Russia's top military supporter. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Russia | Russia |
| North Korea | North Korea |