Seoul mulls measures in response to Pyongyang's arms deal with Moscow

South Korea is considering imposing additional measures against North Korea for its alleged arms deal with Russia, violating UN resolutions. The United States accuses North Korea of supplying Russia with weapons to use in the Ukraine war.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, at the Russian spaceport Vostochny Cosmodrome on Sept. 13. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

The South Korean government said it will look into imposing additional measures against North Korea due to its alleged arms deal with Russia.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry on Saturday stressed that the South Korean government, under tight cooperation with the United States, is closely monitoring the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

“The weapons exchange with Russia is a clear violation of the United Nation Security Council’s resolution,” a Foreign Ministry official said.

“We plan on focusing our diplomatic efforts so that the security council resolution will be strictly upheld with the help of the international community’s cooperation.”

Under the UN Security Council’s resolution 1874, all weapon-related exchanges with North Korea is prohibited.

On Friday, White House Security Council spokesperson John Kirby accused North Korea of supplying Russia with military arms that would be used in its war against Ukraine.

According to the White House, satellite images showed North Korea had supplied at least 1,000 containers, possibly containing military equipment and munitions, to Russia.

The images showed cargo loaded on a Russian-flagged ship, Angara, in Najin, an ammunition depot in North Korea, that traveled to Dunay in Russia. The cargo was then delivered to the southwestern border of Tikhorestk by rail, which is located 290 kilometers (180 miles) from the Ukraine front line.

The U.S. Security Council spokesman added that the United States has already observed cargo on Russian ships being offloaded in North Korea, which may “constitute” an initial delivery of materials from Russia.

"We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians, and further Russia's illegitimate war," Kirby said Friday. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

The U.S. government claimed the delivery took place between Sept. 7 and Oct. 1.

This would indicate that weapon supplies had already taken place before North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 13 at the Russian spaceport Vostochny Cosmodrome.

It was their first encounter in four years and Kim’s first overseas trip since locking down the country's borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The specific type of weapons that had been exchanged has not been identified.

However, it has been speculated that North Korea would have supplied Russia with artillery shells, of which Russia is running short.

North Korea, in exchange, is believed to be getting help in modernizing its military weapons including its surface-to-air missiles and naval defense system.

Pyongyang is also suspected of seeking one of Russia’s most feared weapons, Kinzhal, a hypersonic missile.

North Korea is also reportedly hoping to secure technology for a spy satellite, which has already failed twice this year, and nuclear weapons delivery programs.

The White House revelation in the arms exchange between Russia and North Korea comes a day after the U.S. congressional report claimed that North Korea is “on pace” to deploy enough nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that could penetrate the American missile defense system.

The Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States on Thursday assessed that Pyongyang is "probably preparing to test a nuclear device to facilitate tactical nuclear operations" and is seen to be maintaining a stockpile of a few dozen nuclear warheads.

Since the summit between Kim and Putin, North Korea has been publicly emphasizing its close relationship with Russia.

According to the North Korean state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Russian Ambassador to Pyongyang Alexandr Matsegora on Friday hosted a reception marking the 75th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries.

The event, attended also by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon-il, commemorated the alliance while solidifying further consolidation of the “traditional ties,” rooted in “comradely friendship and militant unity.”

BY LEE HO-JEONG, SARAH KIM [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]