North Korea sold arms to Russia’s Wagner group, US says

BBC News:

The United States has accused North Korea of supplying battlefield missiles and rockets to the Russian mercenary group Wagner for use in Ukraine.

The White House said the shipment violated UN Security Council resolutions and that it would announce further sanctions on Wagner.

Both North Korea and Wagner have denied the reports.

Fighters from the mercenary group have ballooned from 1,000 to nearly 20,000 in Ukraine, the UK government says.

The group has also been active recently in Syria and African countries, and has repeatedly been accused of war crimes and human rights abuses.

“Wagner is searching around the world for arms suppliers to support its military operations in Ukraine,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“We can confirm that North Korea has completed an initial arms delivery to Wagner, which paid for that equipment,” he said.

• Russia-supporting Wagner Group mercenary numbers soar

The White House says the mercenary group took delivery of infantry rockets and missiles from North Korea.

Mr Kirby said Wagner is spending more than $100 million (£82 million) each month in Ukraine.

He added that the group now rivals the Russian military in power.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Britain agreed with Washington’s assessment.

“The fact that President (Vladimir) Putin is turning to North Korea for help is a sign of Russia’s desperation and isolation,” Mr Cleverly said in a statement.

But Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin denied the assertion, calling it “gossip and speculation”, while North Korea’s foreign ministry called the reports “groundless”.

Its position “remains unchanged” and the transaction of arms between North Korea and Russia “has never happened”, a North Korean spokesperson said.