US President Threatens More Sanctions on North Korea
Western Leadership Concerned Over NK and Russian Arms Sales
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September 12, 2023
Washington, DC – The Biden administration has threatened to sanction North Korea if Pyongyang provides weapons to Russia for its ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
United States State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated that any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be a violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Miller emphasized that the US is committed to holding entities accountable for supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine. He stated:
"We have aggressively enforced our sanctions against entities that fund Russia's war effort, and we will continue to enforce those sanctions and will not hesitate to impose new sanctions if appropriate."
While Miller did not specify whether the US would impose penalties on North Korea, Russia, or both, he emphasized that the US is monitoring the situation closely and will wait to see the outcome of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before making any decisions.
Both Russia and North Korea are already under heavy US sanctions. The meeting between Putin and Kim, scheduled to take place in the coming days, has raised concerns about the possibility of a weapons deal between the two countries.
Miller argued that Putin's decision to seek assistance from Kim, who is regarded as an "international pariah," demonstrates that Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a strategic failure.
"There's no better evidence of that than now. A year and a half later, not only has he failed to achieve his goals on the battlefield, but you see him traveling across his own country, hat in hand, to beg Kim Jong Un for military assistance,” said Miller, in a public statement.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine initially aimed to capture the Ukrainian capital but has since scaled back its objectives to occupying eastern parts of the country. While Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive, it has only made modest gains against Russian forces.
Miller expressed confidence in the Ukrainian forces' abilities, stating, "We continue to assess that the Ukrainians are making progress in their counteroffensive, and we have confidence in the ability of their forces."
The United States has been warning its competitors and adversaries, including China, against aiding Russia in its military offensive.
Given the ongoing tensions in Ukraine, the US has repeatedly urged North Korea in the past two weeks to refrain from selling arms to Russia.
Miller emphasized that the meeting between Putin and Kim should not be seen as a social gathering and that the US is “deeply concerned” about the potential for a weapons deal.
As the US continues to closely monitor the situation, it pledges to remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting Ukraine and holding accountable those who assist Russia in its military campaign. Should North Korea provide weapons to Russia, it can expect to face severe consequences in the form of sanctions from the United States.