Recently declassified intelligence reveals that Russia employed short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) obtained from North Korea to conduct multiple strikes against Ukraine, according to the White House. National security spokesperson John Kirby addressed reporters, emphasizing that the United States intends to bring this development to the attention of the United Nations Security Council.
Kirby characterized North Korea's transfer of arms to Russia as a "significant and concerning escalation." He announced that the United States will impose additional sanctions on those involved in facilitating these arms deals. Both Moscow and Pyongyang deny engaging in any such arms deals, despite deepening military relations pledged last year.
The utilization of these missiles has drawn condemnation from various quarters, including Britain and South Korea. South Korea had previously reported in November that North Korea might have supplied SRBMs to Russia as part of a broader arms deal encompassing anti-tank and anti-air missiles, artillery, mortar shells, and rifles.
"Our information indicates that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," stated Kirby, using North Korea's official name. He disclosed that Russian forces launched at least one North Korean ballistic missile into Ukraine on December 30, with the missile landing in an open field. Furthermore, Kirby revealed that Russia launched "multiple" North Korean missiles on Tuesday as part of an extensive wave of heavy airstrikes, with the impact still under assessment.
These recent missile strikes come amid some of the most intense attacks by Russia on Ukraine since the conflict began nearly two years ago. The Ukrainian government reported over 300 attack drones and missiles launched by Russia at cities across Ukraine since Friday.
Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Center's 38 North Program, emphasized that these missiles, along with artillery and munitions, contribute to prolonging Russia's war efforts.
While specific details about the type of missiles sent by Pyongyang were not disclosed, Kirby mentioned a range of about 900 km (550 miles) and shared a graphic indicating KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. These missiles, identified as new, solid-propellant SRBMs tested by North Korea starting in 2019, are now being used in combat for the first time, according to Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Joost Oliemans, a Dutch researcher and North Korea military expert, pointed to images from Ukrainian social media showing fragments consistent with North Korea's Hwasong-11 family of missiles. China, having ties with both North Korea and Russia, stated it has no information on their cooperation.
Kirby concluded by expressing the U.S. expectation that Russia and North Korea will learn from these launches, anticipating further use of North Korean missiles by Russia against Ukraine. He clarified that Iran has not supplied close-range ballistic missiles to Russia, but Washington believes Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran, relying heavily on Iranian weaponry for its conflict with Ukraine.