US State Department spokesman Ned Price announced that Washington intends to use all available means to stop the supply of weapons from North Korea to Russia, and calls on countries that have influence over the North Korean authorities to intervene.
"Just as we seize every opportunity, and we will seize every opportunity, to counter Iranian arms transfers to Russia, we will do the same with respect to arms transfers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to Russia. There are sanctions mechanisms in place, we will look at additional matters," Price said.

According to the US authorities, North Korea is hiding munitions destined for Russia as shipments to countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

"We will continue to explore possibilities for holding North Korea responsible not only for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, but also for continued Russian arms shipments," Price said.

He added, "We believe that countries around the world, especially countries that have influence over the regime in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that the United States does not have, and all responsible countries, and of course the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the sanctions should be fully implemented unanimously by Security Council".

Earlier Wednesday, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said North Korea had been supplying Russia with a "large number" of artillery shells for use in Ukraine.

In September, North Korea's Defense Ministry denied such reports, saying that Pyongyang did not supply Russia and had no plans to supply arms or ammunition to Russia as the US claims, and that the baseless accusations aimed to undermine the country's image.
Source: agencies