The United States also expressed concern that Russia is seeking short-range ballistic missiles from Iran.
The United States has said Russia is using ballistic missiles from North Korea and is seeking short-range ballistic missiles from Iran.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that newly declassified intelligence found that North Korea had provided Moscow with the weapons, at least one of which was fired into Ukraine on Dec. 30 and landed in an open field in the Zaporizhia region.
Russia also launched “multiple” North Korean missiles on Tuesday during a night attack, he added.
Kirby also said that a deal between Russia and Iran had not been completed, but that the United States “is concerned that Russia’s negotiations to acquire short-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively moving forward.”
He said Washington and its allies will now raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council as it indicates a violation of US sanctions against North Korea.
The Biden administration has repeatedly tried to argue that the Kremlin has become dependent on North Korea and Iran for the weapons it needs to continue its military operation in Ukraine and has revealed findings it says prove it.
Until now, North Korea and Iran are largely isolated on the international stage by their nuclear programs and human rights records.
In October, the White House said North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Moscow.
Britain on Thursday condemned Russia’s use of North Korean missiles in recent attacks on Ukraine. “We urge North Korea to cease its arms supply to Russia,” the UK Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.
Crimean attacks
Earlier Thursday, Ukraine announced that its air force had carried out a raid on a Russian command post near the occupied city of Sevastopol and had attacked a military unit in a separate attack on the Crimean peninsula.
Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk posted a video on the Telegram app showing smoke rising from an explosion near Sevastopol, a Crimean port that serves as the main headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
“Thank you again to the Air Force pilots and all those who planned the operation for perfect combat work,” he said.
The Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, described the attack as “the most massive in recent times.”
He said one person was hospitalized after a piece of shrapnel hit.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had thwarted a Ukrainian attack, destroying 10 missiles launched over the peninsula.
