Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
International
Michele Kelemen, NPR

U.S. says Russia has made 'shameful' moves toward new North Korea arms deals

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

In side-by-side photos: Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting in Moscow, Aug. 23, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party at its headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea, in early 2023.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a meeting in Moscow, Aug. 23, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party at its headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea, in early 2023.
Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool and Korean Central News Agency | Korea News Service via AP

The United States has accused Russia of trying to do major arms deals with North Korea, following a new U.S. intelligence report that claimed the two countries were “actively advancing” high-level talks for additional weapons to support Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stood alongside her counterparts from Japan, South Korea and Britain to condemn Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for going to a recent military parade in North Korea, also known as the DPRK.

“The United States is now able to share that Shoigu’s visit was more than just a photo op,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “Russia used this visit to the DPRK to try to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia.”

She added: “This is not the first time Russia has moved to violate [U.N.] Security Council resolutions to pursue its illegal war against Ukraine. There is now incontrovertible evidence that Russia has procured drones from Iran in violation of another resolution.”

According to the U.S. intelligence, the potential agreement would allow North Korea to ship “significant quantities and multiple types” of weapons to Russia for deployment in Ukraine.

The U.S. representative to the U.N. called Shoigu’s visit “shameful.” She said there had been more follow-up talks and an exchange of letters between the leaders of the Russia and North Korea.

Washington and its Asian allies’ relations with both Pyongyang and Moscow have continued to deteriorate since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022.

On Wednesday, South Korea said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles, hours after the U.S. flew at least one long-range bomber to the Korean Peninsula in warnings to Pyongyang.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.