Military Space News
MILPLEX
Russia 'highly values' N. Korean support against Ukraine
Russia 'highly values' N. Korean support against Ukraine
by AFP Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) Oct 18, 2023

Russia "highly values" North Korea's support for its Ukraine campaign, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Pyongyang on Wednesday, with Western concerns mounting over the historic allies' deepening military ties.

Lavrov's comments came as he began a two-day visit to Pyongyang that is expected to lay the groundwork for a trip by President Vladimir Putin.

"We highly value your principled, unambiguous support for Russia's actions in connection with the special military operation in Ukraine," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia's RIA news agency.

The foreign minister's trip comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travelled to Russia to meet Putin last month, his first trip abroad since the pandemic began.

Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang from Beijing, where Putin hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday as an "old friend" during a rare trip abroad.

Putin, guest of honour at a summit celebrating Xi's vast Belt and Road investments project, told reporters the two had met alone "eye-to-eye" and that mounting global conflicts "strengthen" their countries' relations.

Kim had travelled to Russia aboard a specially built bullet-proof train for his face-to-face meeting with Putin, declaring bilateral ties with Moscow were his country's "number one priority".

The high-profile summit fanned Western fears Pyongyang might provide Moscow with weapons for its drawn-out war in Ukraine.

On Friday, the United States said arms shipments were already under way, with North Korea delivering more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks.

Pyongyang was seeking a range of military assistance in return, including advanced technologies, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

- Weapons transfers -

According to a graphic provided by the White House, a load of containers was shipped by sea from North Korea to Russia between September 1 and October 1.

They were then delivered by rail to an ammunition depot about 290 kilometres (180 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

But the Kremlin said Tuesday the United States had no evidence that weapons were being shipped.

"They report this all the time, without providing any proof," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies when asked about the reported arms shipments.

Washington-based analysts Beyond Parallel last week separately released satellite images showing what they termed an "unprecedented" build-up of train traffic along Russia's border with North Korea.

The flurry of activity "likely indicates North Korea's supply of arms and munitions to Russia", the group said in its report.

While Russia has ramped up production of shells this year to a forecast 2.5 million, analysts have suggested that could fall short of its needs on the battlefield.

North Korea is a mass producer of conventional weaponry and known to be sitting on large stocks of Soviet-era war material -- albeit in unknown condition.

- Top priority -

Russia and North Korea are both under a raft of international sanctions -- Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, and Pyongyang for its testing of nuclear weapons.

The tightening of their alliance comes as relations between the two Koreas are at a historic low, with the North conducting a record-breaking series of weapons tests this year and recently enshrining its status as a nuclear state in its constitution.

South Korea has in turn moved to strengthen its security relationship with traditional ally the United States while entering a new trilateral arrangement that also includes Japan.

A US B-52 bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons landed Tuesday at Cheongju Airport, about 100 kilometres south of Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported.

Its arrival came less than a week after the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan docked in the southern port city of Busan, provoking anger from Pyongyang.

While B-52s have previously taken part in joint exercises over the peninsula, it marked the first time one has landed in the country since at least 2000, when such record-keeping began.

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILPLEX
N.Korea has sent arms to Russia for use in Ukraine: White House
Washington (AFP) Oct 13, 2023
North Korea has delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine, the White House said Friday. The statement comes a month after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia's far east and met President Vladimir Putin, sparking concern among Kyiv's allies over the possibility of a potential arms deal. "We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kil ... read more

MILPLEX
Northrop Grumman Completes Key Review for Future Pacific Missile Warning Satellites

Germany 'working' to send Ukraine new Patriot system: Zelensky

$3.5 bn Germany deal the biggest yet for Israeli arms sector

Germany and Israel sign 'historic' missile shield deal

MILPLEX
In first, Ukraine uses US-supplied long-range ATACMS: Zelensky

In-flight target updates achieved in Lockheed Martin's recent Captive Carry Test

Israel says has 'evidence' militants to blame for Gaza hospital blast

US-supplied ATACMS missiles won't help Ukraine: Putin

MILPLEX
US shoots down drones in Iraq, allied forces wounded

U.S. Navy destroyer shoots down missiles, drones heading north toward Israel

US-led troops in Iraq reportedly targeted by suicide drone

Enhancing the safety and efficacy of drone flights in polar regions

MILPLEX
DoDe enlists SES Space and Defense for satellite-based communication services

DARPA Selects Teams to Boost Supply-and-Demand Network Resiliency

Northrop Grumman to Create Constellation of Connectivity for Air Force Research Laboratory

Aalyria and Second Front partner to expedite availability of spacetime for government use

MILPLEX
The Israel-Hamas military balance

Israeli forces prepare for grinding urban war in Gaza

'Not proud at all': Japan's army struggles to recruit

Britain, European allies unveil $122M security package for Ukraine

MILPLEX
Russia 'highly values' N. Korean support against Ukraine

Brazil probes theft of heavy machine guns from army base

N.Korea has sent arms to Russia for use in Ukraine: White House

U.S. think tank: Railcar buildup could be N. Korea weapons shipments to Russia

MILPLEX
Russia's Putin says world conflicts 'strengthen' ties with China

China's Xi rejects 'bloc confrontation' as begins BRI forum

Xi hails Putin friendship and deep ties between China and Russia

Putin in China to meet 'dear friend' Xi

MILPLEX
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.