Financial Times: Ukraine Uses North Korean Missiles Against Russian Positions

The Financial Times reported on Saturday that Ukrainian soldiers are using North Korean missiles, which they claim were seized by a 'friendly' country before being delivered to Russia, against Russian positions. The newspaper states that the United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia, including shipments sent by sea, but has not provided evidence, and North Korean weapons have not been widely observed on the battlefields in Ukraine. North Korea and Russia deny any arms deals. The report mentions that North Korean weapons include multiple launch rocket systems known as 'Grad', which were shown being used by Ukrainian soldiers near the devastated city of Bakhmut. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made an unprecedented visit to Pyongyang last week for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, marking the first visit by a senior Moscow defense official since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. During this visit, Shoigu was seen observing North Korea's banned ballistic missiles alongside Kim Jong Un, the country's leader, at a military exhibition in Pyongyang, reflecting deeper ties between the two countries, both facing off against the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on Shoigu's visit during his trip to Australia, stating that Russia is trying to purchase weapons from North Korea as it seeks to procure arms from anywhere to continue its aggression in Ukraine, including receiving drones from Iran. The report also highlights that a second U.S. nuclear submarine has docked in South Korea as a message to North Korea, and that Shoigu delivered a 'letter from Putin' to the North Korean leader. North Korea has launched ballistic missiles again, and tensions are rising between North Korea and the U.S. and its allies.