WASHINGTON: The United States has expressed deep concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat to provide Pyongyang with arms, warning such a step would “destabilize” the Korean peninsula.
President Putin, during a rare trip to North Korea, inked a mutual defense agreement on Wednesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who promised his country’s complete “support” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking on Thursday in Vietnam, the Russian President said Moscow would not rule out sending arms to North Korea, calling it repercussions for the West supplying Kyiv. The threat “is incredibly concerning,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told media persons.
“It would destabilize the Korean peninsula, possibly, depending on the type of arms, and might violate UNSC resolutions that Moscow itself has supported,” Miller stated.
The US and its allies have previously alleged North Korea of supplying Russia with missiles and artillery that it has used to attack Ukraine.
President Putin warned South Korea on Thursday not to supply Kyiv with arms, following South Korea said it was reassessing its current ban.
South Korea has a longstanding policy that bars it from selling arms into active conflict zones, which it has stuck to despite calls from the USA and Ukraine to reconsider.
He further said that they welcome any support and aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression,”.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the agreement with Kyiv to fire into Russia extends wherever Russian troops are attempting to invade. Similarly, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Charlie Dietz said that If Russian forces are attacking from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to permit Ukraine to hit back against the troops that are hitting it from across the border.
