North Korea may sell new type of ballistic missiles to Russia
North Korea may transfer a new type of ballistic missiles to Russia (photo from open sources)
North Korea may be prepared to provide Russia with a new type of missile and could conduct further weapon tests to escalate tensions ahead of elections in South Korea and the United States, says South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.
The head of the defense ministry noted that North Korea may conduct tests of solid-fuel medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) as early as January and launch a long-range missile at a normal angle to escalate tensions ahead of the crucial elections in South Korea and the United States.
"North Korea first test-fired a close-range ballistic missile in April 2022. It is a new type of weapon with an estimated range of 100-180 kilometers," said Won Sik.
He added that North Korea had previously stated its intention to deploy these missiles to front-line forces and could sell at least some of them to Russia, considering its recent suspicions regarding the sale of short-range ballistic missiles.
Parliamentary elections in South Korea are scheduled for April, and presidential elections in the United States will take place in November.
Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia
Recently, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby announced that Russia received short-range ballistic missiles from North Korea.
According to Kirby, the occupiers have already used such weaponry for strikes against Ukraine, targeting the Zaporizhzhia region, where a missile landed in an open field. Additionally, the Russians utilized North Korean ballistic missiles for attacks on Kharkiv.
In a joint statement, the United States and nearly 40 partner countries condemned the supply of weapons from North Korea to Russia and its use by Moscow in the war against Ukraine.
Media reports suggest that North Korea may have transferred several dozen short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine.
