Jan 4, 2024. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
The White
House has said North Korea provided Russia with ballistic missiles and
launchers for its invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Putin sped up the Russian
citizenship process for foreign fighters. DW has the latest.
What you need to know
The United
States said Thursday that Russia has recently used North Korean missiles on
Ukraine, most recently on Tuesday.
White House
official John Kirby, citing declassified intelligence, said one of the North
Korean missiles was also fired on December 30.
In
addition, Kirby said Russia was striving to procure ballistic missiles from
Iran for its war on Ukraine, but a deal on the matter between Moscow and Tehran
had not been completed.
Meanwhile,
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is in favor of expediting the
citizenship process for its foreign fighters who serve in the Russian military.
Foreign
fighters will only need a minimum of a one-year enlistment in the military to
acquire a Russian passport for themselves and their families, bypassing
residency and Russian language requirements.
Skip next section North Korea recently gave
Russia missiles for assault on Ukraine, US says
North Korea
recently gave Russia missiles for assault on Ukraine, US says
North Korea
recently provided Russia with missiles and launchers for it to use in its
invasion of Ukraine, the White House said.
"This
is a significant and concerning escalation," White House National Security
Council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists in a press conference.
Kirby,
citing recently declassified intelligence, said Russia had shot one of the
North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine on December 30.
Russian
President Vladimir Putin last met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in
September.
Concerns
grow that North Korea is sending weapons to Russia
The visit
raised suspicions that the two sides could engage in a weapons deal. Russia is
seeking more arms for war in Ukraine, while North Korea wants to modernize its
Soviet-era military equipment.
Kirby also
said Russia is seeking to procure short-range ballistic missiles from Iran as
the invasion of Ukraine presses on.
(international media)