▲ John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, is seen speaking during a press briefing at the Foreign Press Center in Washington on Aug. 16, 2023 in this captured image. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) N Korea-Russia-arms transfers

(LEAD) Russia fired more N. Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine: White House

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- Russia recently fired additional North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine following earlier such launches, a White House official said Tuesday, reiterating the arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang violate multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, disclosed Russia's additional missile strikes at the war-torn country, while noting its earlier launches of North Korean missiles on Dec. 30, Jan. 2 and Saturday last week.

"Since then, Russian forces again launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine," Kirby told a press briefing. "We are still assessing the impacts of these strikes, but we can confirm that at least one of them landed in Kharkiv."

Last Thursday, Kirby announced that the North provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles as well as ballistic missile launchers.

Kirby said that Washington will discuss the arms transfers between the North and Russia at the UNSC on Wednesday.

"Russia's transfer of ballistic missiles from the DPRK directly violates multiple UNSC resolutions," He said. "Tomorrow, we will raise these arms deals at the UNSC alongside our allies and partners and demand that Russia be held accountable for yet again violating international obligations that it signed up to."

Last Thursday, he announced that Pyongyang recently provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles as well as ballistic missile launchers.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]