“Russia unblocked North Korea’s frozen assets in exchange for weapons” – 2024-02-13 02:02:46

Russian authorities unblocked some of North Korea’s frozen assets in a Russian bank and helped the DPRK gain access to the international banking system. This was reported by “The New York Times” citing sources in the intelligence services of US allies.

Publika.az reports that, according to interlocutors of the publication, this happened after North Korea transferred weapons to Russia for the war in Ukraine. Intelligence officials say Russia has unblocked $9 million of Pyongyang’s $30 million in assets frozen in a Russian bank. The publication does not indicate which bank is being discussed. According to the publication’s sources, the DPRK will use this money to buy oil.

In addition, according to The New York Times, a North Korean company has opened an account in another Russian bank. The interlocutors of NYT clarify that we are talking about a bank in South Ossetia, which has declared itself independent. The newspaper says that this suggests that Russian authorities are helping North Korea to circumvent UN sanctions that prohibit banks from doing business with North Korea.

American officials told the newspaper that they do not know the details of Moscow’s agreements with Pyongyang in the banking sector. However, one of the interlocutors noted that this is related to the demand put forward by the DPRK in exchange for the supply of weapons to Russia.
According to experts interviewed by the publication, Russia will be cautious in its relations with the DPRK as a member of the UN Security Council.

John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator, said in early January that Russian forces began using ballistic missiles purchased from North Korea to attack Ukraine. In October 2023, he announced that the DPRK had transferred more than a thousand containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia.

Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, while commenting on these news, said that there is no evidence of the supply of weapons from the DPRK to Russia. Vladimir Putin stated that there are prospects for military-technical cooperation between Russia and the DPRK. At the same time, he noted that Moscow complies with UN Security Council sanctions. (Musavat.com)