US: Russia Offering Food to N. Korea for Weapons

Facts

• US national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that Russia is offering North Korea food in exchange for weapons. The US has previously accused North Korea — and other regimes like Iran — of backing Russia's campaign in Ukraine.¹
• Though Pyongyang has denied the claims, the US claims it has discovered new details of the alleged aid given to Russia by the North — including providing arms to the Russian mercenary Wagner Group.²
• Kirby said Russia is seeking more than two dozen kinds of weapons from North Korea as part of a series of deals, adding that, 'Any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would directly violate a series of U.N. Security Council resolutions.'³
• As North Korea looks for ways to deal with what experts call the worst food crisis it has seen under Kim Jong Un's 11-year rule, US Sec. of State Antony Blinken suggested that China was also considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia, though Washington has not provided evidence.⁴
• A UK envoy also suggested that Russia offered Iran significant military support in exchange for ballistic missiles. Iran also reportedly provided Moscow with explosive suicide drones for its war in Ukraine.¹
• The US Treasury, which claims Russia has received dozens of types of weapons from Pyongyang in exchange for commercial aircraft, raw materials, and commodities, also announced Thursday sanctions against a Slovakian national, Ashot Mkrtychev, alleging he attempted to facilitate arms deals between the two nations.⁴

Sources: ¹Business Insider, ²BBC News, ³The washington times and ⁴Sky news.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Washington post. To provide transparency to the world and combat Russia's growing ties with other authoritarian regimes, the Biden admin. is releasing evidence of illegal arms deals between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. Washington's sanctions against these countries are in place for a reason, and any military agreements that could strengthen these oppressive governments must be stopped immediately. This is an affront to the democratic rules-based world order.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Tass. Whether it be North Korea, China, or any other state being bullied by the US, Russia has every right to and must build coalitions with global partners to deter the aggressive economic and military provocation by American hegemony. And, unlike how the US treats its so-called allies, these partnerships are based on mutual respect and cooperation, not coercion and bad faith.