U.S. Provides $253 Billion in Military Aid to Ukraine, Kim Yo-jong Calls It a 'Mistake and Foolish' | WPN World People News

North Korea Denies Allegations of Illegally Supplying Russia with Weapons, Criticizes U.S. for $8 Billion Military Aid to Ukraine as a "Unbelievable Mistake"

Amid external accusations that North Korea is illegally providing arms to Russia, North Korea responded on the 29th, claiming that the U.S.'s military aid to Ukraine, worth $8 billion (about NT$253 billion), is "an unbelievable mistake" and likened it to "playing with fire" with Russia, a nuclear superpower.

According to a Reuters report, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new military aid to Kyiv, which includes long-range weapons, enhancing Ukraine's ability to strike Russia from a safer distance.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stated that the U.S. is escalating the conflict in Ukraine and pushing Europe towards the brink of nuclear war. In a statement through the state-run Korean Central News Agency, she emphasized that the serious warnings issued by Russia should not be ignored or underestimated by the U.S. and the West, questioning whether they are truly capable of bearing the consequences of "recklessly playing with fire" with a nuclear superpower like Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously warned that if Russia is attacked by missiles, it might resort to nuclear weapons, and he views any attack on Russia by non-nuclear states, with the support of nuclear states, as a collective assault. Kim Yo-jong further criticized the continued military support for Zelenskyy as a dangerous and irresponsible gamble, labeling the announcement of the $8 billion in military aid as "an unbelievable mistake and foolish act." Kim Yo-jong frequently speaks on political and security issues, representing Pyongyang's stance, and is believed to be authorized by Kim Jong-un.

Over the past year, relations between North Korea and Russia have significantly strengthened, with the two nations' leaders meeting twice and reaching several agreements, including a "comprehensive strategic partnership" that includes mutual defense commitments.

The U.S. has claimed that since September last year, North Korea has shipped at least 16,500 weapons containers to Russia, which Russia has reportedly started using to launch missiles against Ukraine. However, both North Korea and Russia deny any involvement in illegal arms trade.