According to U.S. intelligence, North Korea has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers that Russian forces have already deployed against Ukraine, the White House national security spokesman John Kirby said in Washington on Thursday.
Kirby said that at least one North Korean missile was fired by Russian forces on Dec. 30, and several more were used in a night air strike on Ukrainian territory on Jan. 2.
The communications coordinator of the National Security Council also said that the effects of the Russian attacks are still being assessed, adding that one of the missiles landed in an open field in Zaporizhzhya province.
Kirby indicated that U.S. intelligence reports suggest that Russia is trying to obtain short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, a sign that Moscow is finding it increasingly difficult to secure supplies for its war in Ukraine.
He noted that arms sales talks between Russia and Iran have not yet been concluded, but that the U.S. is concerned that they are progressing. However, he said that as Russia becomes increasingly isolated on the world stage due to sanctions, it is turning to like-minded states for arms supplies.
Last October, the U.S. made public its intelligence that a military shipment of some 1,000 containers had been transferred from North Korea to Russia.
Iran had previously provided Russia with military drones, which were also used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
