White House Takes North Korea’s Military Progress Seriously Amid Concerns

The U.S. government expressed concern on the 13th (local time) over North Korea’s recent development of advanced weapons systems and military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. However, there was no sharp countermeasure.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communication of the White House National Security Council (NSC), responded to a question that said, “The Russian Foreign Minister pointed out the risk of armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula” during a briefing that day, stating, “We take Kim Jong Un’s relentless efforts to improve and develop sophisticated weapons systems very seriously.”

“We also take it very seriously with our ally South Korea, and as I’ve said many times, this is why the President (Biden) is investing resources and capabilities to deepen bilateral relations with South Korea and trilateral relations with South Korea and Japan,” he added.

He avoided a direct answer when asked, “Do you see this as a quid pro quo for North Korea’s arms support to Russia, given reports that Russia released $9 million of the $30 million in North Korean funds it had frozen under UN sanctions and opened North Korean accounts in Russian banks?”

Coordinator Kirby stated, “We cannot confirm reports that they made such financial transactions, and we cannot speculate on what moved them.”

“However, we are concerned about the rapidly deepening defense relationship between Russia and North Korea,” he added.

Before this, a Workers’ Party of Korea delegation has been visiting Russia since the 12th.