Dozens of countries including the United States, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and numerous others, have united in condemnation against purported ballistic missile transfers from North Korea to Russia. This act is seen as a violation of the United Nations' sanctions.

A collective statement from Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, and foreign ministers representing around 47 countries such as Argentina, Australia, Guatemala, Japan, and South Korea, strongly denounced the alleged arms transfers. These weapons were reported to have been utilized against Ukraine on December 30 and January 2.

The joint statement emphasized the exacerbation of suffering for the Ukrainian populace due to these weapon transfers. It also pointed out the support these actions provide to Russia's aggressive war and how they undermine global efforts for non-proliferation. The statement highlighted the potential for North Korea to gain technical and military insights from this cooperation.

Expressing deep concerns about the security implications in Europe, the Korean Peninsula, the broader Indo-Pacific region, and globally, the statement called attention to the gravity of such cooperation.

According to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, more North Korean weaponry, including one that landed in Kharkiv (Ukraine's second-largest city), has been reportedly used by Russia in recent events in Ukraine.

The US and its allies intend to bring this issue before the UN Security Council on Wednesday. The statement stressed that the weapons exchange between Pyongyang and Moscow violates numerous UNSC resolutions dating back to 2006, imposed in response to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

When questioned about the alleged weapons transfers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment. Reports had surfaced as early as 2022 indicating Russia's intentions to procure weapons from North Korea for use in its invasion of Ukraine.

In August of the preceding year, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US's envoy to the United Nations, informed the organization about Moscow's discussions regarding potential deals for substantial quantities and various types of munitions.

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