The White House says North Korea is supplying Russia with ballistic missiles

The White House on Thursday accused North Korea of ​​supplying Russia with ballistic missiles that Moscow has begun firing at targets in Ukraine, saying the North was seeking a range of Russian military technologies in return.

The North Korean-made missiles, with a range of 500 miles, were shipped to Russia in violation of United Nations restrictions on the North, the White House said as it released recently released intelligence findings. Kim Jong Un’s government regularly ignores missile restrictions.

John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said some of the first of the North Korean-made missiles were fired at Ukraine on Tuesday, although it was unclear how much damage they caused. In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up its missile and drone attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure in Kiev and other cities, aiming to erode Ukraine’s will to fight at a time when Ukraine itself is short of missiles and ammunition.

Such a move by North Korea poses two major challenges to the United States. It suggests that Russia is boosting its own missile production with new supplies, at a time when Congress is still holding back additional aid to Ukraine, including for artillery and air defense systems. And it suggests that Russia, which once worked with the United States in an effort to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, is now considering helping the North develop better delivery systems.

Russia has been rebuilding its own domestic stockpile of cruise missiles, shorter-range missiles and artillery, despite Western financial sanctions and export controls. But to keep up with the intensity of the barrage against Ukraine, the country has turned to North Korea and Iran. Mr Kirby said the range of the missiles now being shipped from North Korea meant they could be launched from far inside Russia – where launch sites are harder for Ukraine to hit – and still reach some Ukrainian cities.

The technology North Korea is seeking includes fighter jets and ballistic missile launching technology, Mr. Kirby said. Other U.S. officials have said the North is also seeking more help on the range and accuracy of its intercontinental ballistic missiles, which it has tested repeatedly in recent months. But it is not clear whether Russia has agreed to further assist the North with these nuclear missiles. In the past, North Korea has relied heavily on what appeared to be Russian missile designs, but it has never been clear how closely it worked with Russian engineers.

The Biden administration has pressured lawmakers on Capitol Hill to provide an additional $50 billion to Ukraine to help finance its military operations this year. Republican opposition has grown, with party leaders saying they will only support additional aid if the Biden administration makes significant concessions on border policy.

Mr. Kirby argued at the White House on Thursday that the missile shipments to Russia underscored the need to pass new aid to the Ukrainians. The White House claims that virtually nothing remains of last year’s weapons packages. And Mr. Kirby claimed that American credibility was at stake.

‘You know who else is watching? Vladimir Putin and President Xi in Beijing,” he said. “They are looking at whether the United States will really prove to be a reliable partner.”

There was no immediate comment from North Korea or Russia on the White House announcement.

Russia has stepped up attacks on civilian infrastructure in recent weeks. Mr Kirby said “mass bombardment” from drones and missiles had hit a maternity hospital, shopping center and residential areas, killing “dozens of innocent people and injuring hundreds more.”

North Korea and Russia are discussing increased arms sales since a visit by the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, to Russia in September. Since then, North Korea has shipped hundreds of containers of artillery shells to Russia. But the impact of this ammunition on the battlefield has been limited. Many of the grenades are old and perform poorly, with a high percentage of duds, according to Ukrainian and U.S. officials.

Lara Jakes contributed reporting from Rome, and Julian E Barnes from Washington.