North Korea supplying munitions to Russia: German Defence Chief
- In Reports
- 09:33 PM, Sep 09, 2024
- Myind Staff
Germany’s top military official, Chief of Defence General Carsten Breuer, stated during a visit to South Korea that North Korea’s provision of weapons has bolstered Russia’s position in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. By supplying arms, North Korea has enabled Russia to maintain its domestic stockpiles. General Breuer emphasised that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have sought assistance from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if these weapons were not strategically valuable.
“It’s about increasing the production of weapons for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, it’s also strengthening Russia by making it possible for them to keep their stocks like they are," Breue informed the reporters from Seoul.
Ukraine, the United States, and various independent analysts have asserted that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine by providing rockets and missiles. In exchange, Moscow is offering economic support and other forms of military assistance to North Korea.
According to Robert Koepcke, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, North Korea has delivered at least 16,500 containers of munitions and related materials to Russia since September of the previous year. He reported in a speech last week that Russia has used over 65 of these missiles in attacks against targets in Ukraine.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied direct arms transfers, which would breach United Nations embargoes. When questioned about whether he had urged South Korea to directly supply weapons to Ukraine, General Breuer stated that he concurred with Ukraine’s perspective on the value of anti-aircraft systems, infantry fighting vehicles, and other armaments in the conflict. He emphasised that every nation should contribute as much as possible to the effort.
South Korea has supplied non-lethal equipment and aid but has indicated that it does not intend to send weapons unless Russia’s collaboration with North Korea crosses certain, yet unspecified, red lines.
“We have told North Korea that their security cooperation with Russia has direct implications for our security situation,” German Ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt said.
During his visit to South Korea, General Breuer toured two German warships that had docked there prior to their journey across the South China Sea en route to Manila. The general did not confirm whether the ships would pass through the disputed Taiwan Strait, which would mark the first such voyage by German warships in over 20 years.
China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, a democratically governed island, and claims jurisdiction over the nearly 180-km (110-mile) wide Taiwan Strait. Taiwan disputes China’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only its own people have the authority to determine their future.
Image source: AFP
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