North Korea dismisses 'absurd rumor' of arms exports to Russia
The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dismissed outside speculation about arms dealings with Russia and military exports for use against Ukraine as “the most absurd paradox”.
South Korea and the United States have repeatedly accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Moscow. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.
There is speculation in the West that ramped-up testing and production of artillery and cruise missiles by North Korea could be in preparation for shipments to Russia for use in Ukraine.
But Kim Yo Jong said Friday Pyongyang had "no intention to export our military technical capabilities to any country", accusing hostile forces of "misleading the public opinion with an absurd rumor".
She said the North Korea-Russia arms deal "theory" made up of prejudice and fiction was the "most absurd theory" that does not deserve anyone's evaluation or interpretation.
“We have no intention to export our military technical capabilities to any country or open them to the public.”
Her remarks came a day after the US announced fresh sanctions on two Russian individuals and three Russian companies for allegedly facilitating arms transfers between Russia and North Korea, including ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday criticized Washington and its allies for their "intimidation in the military sphere" against North Korea.
Their joint statement after meeting in Beijing came as US and South Korean stealth fighters staged joint air combat drills as part of three-way exercises which also involve Japan.
North and South Korea remain technically at war because their 1950 to 1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty.
Kim Yo Jong said, "What is most urgent for us is not to 'advertise' or 'export' something, but to make the war readiness and war deterrent of our army more perfect in quality and quantity."
On Tuesday, North Korea's leader inspected a new tactical missile weapons system and called for an "epochal change" in war preparations by achieving arsenal production targets.
Kim Yo Jong said North Korea’s recent weapons tests were purely performed as parts of the country’s five-year arms buildup plan launched in 2021. She added that the recently tested weapons are designed to attack Seoul, the South Korean capital.
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