North Korea’s denials of providing Russia with weapons to be used in its war against Ukraine, despite clear evidence to the contrary, shows that the reclusive regime is concerned about damaging its image further in the West and the potential for tougher sanctions, according to experts, Friday.In a statement carried by its state-run media earlier in the day, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said North Korean weapons are intended to target Seoul, not for exports to Russia.“We have no intention to export our military technical capabilities to any country or open them to the public. Our tactical weapons, including multiple rocket launchers and missiles, will be used to prevent Seoul from inventing any idle thinking,” Kim was quoted as saying by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency.
South Korea and the United States accuse North Korea of supplying artillery, missiles and other conventional weapons to Russia to support its war in Ukraine. U.N. sanctions envoys to North Korea confirmed that Russia used North Korean Hwaseong-11 series ballistic missile in the Jan. 2 attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Kim rejected the allegations of North Korea-Russian arms exchange, calling it “the most absurd paradox.”“Kim’s statement suggests that North Korea is concerned about international sanctions. I believe sanctions are still an effective tool. North Korea fears that if it admits its arms dealings with Russia, it may turn its European allies into enemies,” said Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean studies at Ewah Womans 카지노사이트킹 University.