North Korea has denied US allegations that it secretly sent artillery shells to Russia for the war against Ukraine. The state news agency KCNA quoted a deputy department head in the North Korean Defense Ministry on Tuesday as saying that the rumors spread by the United States in order to damage North Korea’s international reputation were “unfounded”. North Korea does not have any arms deals with Russia and has “no intention of doing so in the future,” the statement said.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday that North Korea had shipped a “significant” quantity of ammunition to Russia and was trying to create the impression that the shipments were destined for the Middle East or North Africa. According to Kirby, however, it was unclear whether the ammunition arrived in Russia: “We will continue to monitor whether the deliveries are received,” he said.