North Korea has provided more than 10,000 containers of munitions or munition-related materials to Russia since September. This is part of Moscow's efforts to restock its weapons inventory for potential use in Ukraine.
In order to prove responsibility for Russia's ongoing conflict against Ukraine and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the department brought attention to the arms transactions simultaneously with the Treasury Department, as per to The Korea Times.
UN Scrutinizes North Korea-Russia Transactions
Some transactions between North Korea and Russia are under scrutiny for possibly breaching several UN Security Council resolutions, including those that were supported by Moscow as a permanent council member. According to reports, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has allegedly sent more than 10,000 containers of munitions or related materials to Russia since September 2023, as revealed by an undisclosed source.
In October, the White House said that North Korea sent over 1,000 military equipment and ammunition packages. The current penalties designate two more North Korean-Russian weapons transfer companies. A Russian company manages Vostochny Port terminal and a naval station near Vladivostok.
North Korea allegedly supplied Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used against Ukraine on certain days in December and January, according to the White House. North Korea's military help to Russia may extend the Ukraine trouble, while Moscow's response may threaten Korean Peninsula security.
Meanwhile, in a significant move, the Treasury and State Departments have announced sanctions on over 500 individuals and entities, aiming to impose additional costs on Russia for its repression, human rights abuses, and aggression against Ukraine. This marks the largest number of such sanctions since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to The Korea Herald.
US Imposes Sweeping Sanctions on Russia
The Bureau of Industry and Security under the Commerce Department has restricted exports from 93 companies, including South Korean Daesung International Trading. President Biden imposed over 500 additional sanctions on Russia, targeting persons associated to Alexei Navalny's detention and Russia's financial, defense, and procurement networks.
As part of this extensive sanctions package, the State Department has designated two additional entities involved in the transfer of munitions from North Korea to Russia. One entity is a Russian firm managing a terminal at Vostochny Port, while the other is the Dunay Naval Missile Facility, a Russian naval base and port facility implicated in the munitions transfer.
The Treasury Department underlines that the sanctions aim to deprive Russia of war-sustaining resources. Financial infrastructure, banks, investment enterprises, and financial technology companies in Russia are targeted. Three Russian officials are also sanctioned by the State Department over Navalny's killing.
Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, promoted the effect of these actions on Russia's economy and military-industrial base. She said these measures, along with global initiatives, have diminished Russia's standing. Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, restated the US dedication to utilizing all possible resources to block Russia's war efforts and bolster Ukraine's defense, Yonhap News Agency reported.
