North Korean official criticizes US support for Ukraine
STORY: A top North Korean military official on Monday criticized the US for increasing military aid to Ukraine, according to state media a show of support for Moscow in the ongoing Ukraine war.
A recent pact between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, announced during Putin's visit to Pyongyang last week commits both countries to provide immediate military assistance in the case of aggression against either one of them potentially enabling arms trading and strengthening their anti-US alliance.
Both Washington and Seoul are concerned about the prospect of increased military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and have accused them of already violating international laws by trading arms for use against Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea deny these claims.
North Korea's Pak Jong Chon, the top official speaking in state media Monday warned of a potential strong response from Moscow if the US pushes Ukraine towards a "proxy war" against Russia, possibly leading to a "new world war."
He referred to comments by the Pentagon last week that Ukrainian forces can use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike Russian forces anywhere across the border into Russia.
In a joint statement released the same day by Seoul's foreign ministry officials from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan strongly condemned the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.
