Russia says it will build close ties with North Korea ‘in all areas’

The US and its allies have voiced concern that Kim Jong-un could provide weapons and ammunition to Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said reports of weapons supplies from Pyongyang were ‘groundless’

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) meets Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in the Amur Oblast of Russia’s Far East region on September 13. Photo: KCNA via Reuters

Published: 3:41am, 27 Oct 2023Updated: 5:02am, 27 Oct 2023

Russia said on Thursday that it planned to build close ties with North Korea in all areas, a day after South Korea, Japan and the United States condemned what they said were weapons supplies from Pyongyang to Moscow.

Asked about the accusation by the three countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “There are many such reports, they are all groundless as a rule, there are no specifics. Such reports have been around for a long time. We see no point in commenting on this.”

He added: “North Korea is our neighbour and we continue and will continue to develop close relations in all areas.”

Pressed on whether weapons deliveries had taken place, Peskov said: “We don’t comment on this in any way.”

North Korea’s munitions shipments come as Russia resumes its so-called “human wave” tactics in its continuing war against Ukraine.

The strategy involves throwing “masses of poorly trained soldiers right into the battlefield without proper equipment, and … without proper training and preparation”, Kirby said. He added that the decision shows that Russia has “no regard for the lives of its own soldiers” and that where Russia is making progress, it is “very scant and short”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Russia in September at which they discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine and possible Russian help for the secretive state’s satellite programme.

The United States and its allies have voiced concern that Kim could provide weapons and ammunition to Russia, which has expended vast stocks in its 20-month war in Ukraine.