White House says it has intelligence that Russia is trying to buy artillery ammunition from North Korea

The White House announced on Wednesday that it has intelligence that Russia is negotiating with North Korea to purchase artillery munitions to keep its war machine running in Ukraine.

Moscow is running out of partners to support its stalled invasion.

And National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia recently stepped up its efforts to buy weapons from North Korea as a sign of weakness.

“Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently traveled to the DPRK to try to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia,” he said, referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Since that visit, President Putin and the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un, have exchanged letters promising to intensify their bilateral cooperation.

“Information further indicates that after Shoigu’s visit, another group of Russian officials traveled to Pyongyang for follow-up talks on possible arms deals between the DPRK and Russia.”

He did not provide further information on how the intelligence was obtained, but said US officials believed talks would continue.

And he said any deal, including those on raw materials for weapons and ammunition, would violate UN Security Council resolutions.

“We urge the DPRK to cease arms negotiations with Russia… and abide by Pyongyang’s public commitments not to supply or sell arms to Russia,” he added.

The White House revealed its intelligence amid rising tensions with North Korea.

A little earlier, South Korea announced that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile towards eastern waters.

And it comes hours after the US flew long-range bombers from the Korean Peninsula to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force.

Shortly before the White House revealed new information about North Korea

The White House said Russian President Vladimir Putin recently exchanged letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un promising to deepen cooperation.

US Air Force B-1B bombers and South Korean Air Force F-35A will participate in a joint air exercise over South Korea in March. B1-B bombers have been airborne again as a show of force

At the same time, the Biden administration has repeatedly argued that the Kremlin has become dependent on North Korea and Iran for its weapons as it becomes increasingly isolated.

Kirby said this was a clear sign of President Vladimir Putin’s weakness.

“He’s going to Iran, he’s going to North Korea to try to get artillery shells and the basic materials so that he can continue to strengthen his defense industrial base,” he said.

“There’s no other way to look at it than desperation and weakness.”