Russia ties embolden North Korea – Pentagon — RT World News

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has sounded the alarm over growing strategic cooperation between North Korea and Russia, saying the burgeoning alliance has boosted leader Kim Jong Un's confidence.

Austin made his statements in testimony before the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Relations between Moscow and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have deepened since Kim traveled to Russia last September for talks with President Vladimir Putin. The defense ministers of Russia and North Korea met last July in Pyongyang.

“North Korea, once again, has become more confident because of its association with Putin.” Austin He told lawmakers. He also noted the expansion of cooperation between Russia, North Korea, Iran and the People's Republic of China.

“This is very concerning: something that we have to monitor, something that we have to make sure that we have the ability and capacity to work with our allies to continue to deter and to continue to promote peace and stability in the region. Every region.” Austin said. he added, “The growing relationship between the People’s Republic of China, Russia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Iran is troubling, and this is something we are monitoring closely.”

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown agreed, saying that the threats posed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran exist “Interconnected.”

Austin also claimed that Russia has turned to the DPRK for additional artillery shells and other munitions to replenish its stockpiles in the Ukrainian conflict. North Korean and Russian officials denied accusations of transferring weapons from Pyongyang. They also accused the United States and its allies in Northeast Asia of exacerbating tensions in the region by preparing for war with the DPRK.

North Korea has intensified its missile tests since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, and has ruled out the possibility of reunification with South Korea. The North Korean Foreign Ministry said that increased cooperation with Russia would help defend North Korea “Basic interests” The two countries and help create “Multipolar international system”