The United States has accused North Korea of providing combat missiles and rockets for use in Ukraine to the Russian mercenary outfit Wagner.
The White House stated that the shipment was in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and that it will announce additional penalties against Wagner.
Wagner and North Korea have both disputed the reports.
The number of mercenary fighters in Ukraine has increased from 1,000 to roughly 20,000, according to the British government.
In addition to recent activity in Syria and African nations, the group has been regularly accused of war crimes and violations of human rights.
John Kirby, a spokesperson for national security at the White House, told reporters that Wagner is combing the globe for weaponry suppliers to bolster its military activities in Ukraine.
“We can confirm that North Korea has delivered the first shipment of armaments to Wagner, who paid for the equipment,” he stated.
The White House reports that North Korea delivered infantry rockets and missiles to the mercenary organization.
Mr. Kirby reported that Wagner spends over $100 million (£82 million) per month in Ukraine.
He stated that the group’s power now approaches that of the Russian military.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that the United Kingdom concurred with the view of the United States.
Mr. Cleverly stated in a statement, “The fact that President (Vladimir) Putin is seeking assistance from North Korea is an indication of Russia’s despair and isolation.”
Wagner’s owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, disputed the claim, referring to it as “rumors and speculation,” while North Korea’s foreign ministry dismissed the accusations as “unfounded.”
A representative for North Korea stated that its position “remains unchanged” and that the transaction of weaponry between North Korea and Russia “has never occurred.”
It is thought that the Wagner group first went into action in 2014 after Russia invaded Crimea.
Its proprietor, Mr. Prigozhin, is an oligarch known as “Putin’s chef” since he rose to prominence as a restaurateur and Kremlin caterer.
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has suffered several failures, Wagner’s influence and presence have grown significantly.
Wagner was believed to have dispatched an initial force of approximately 1,000 in March 2022. Officials from the United Kingdom report that this number has risen to around 20,000, or roughly 10% of the entire Russian land forces.
Wagner’s bloated ranks are attributable to its purposeful recruiting of prisoners in Russian jails. During the two months preceding November 2022, when Russia was actively recruiting, the number of prisoners in Russian jails plummeted by more than 23,000.
Numerous prisoners are reported to have joined Wagner, while exact numbers are unavailable. In exchange, they will be compensated and have their sentences commuted after six months on the front lines.
