North Korea provided Russia with military equipment for the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration alleged on Friday.
"We now have information that North Korea has delivered arms to Russia for use in Ukraine," National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told reporters on Friday, adding, "Our information indicates that in recent weeks, North Korea has provided Russia more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions."
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The NSC released a map of the containers' movements, which went from Najin, North Korea, to Dunay, Russia, via the Russian-flagged M/V Angara, and then traveled to Tikhoretsk, Russia, which is near the Black Sea, by rail.
"We condemn the DPRK for providing Russia with this military equipment, which will be used to attack Ukrainian cities, kill Ukrainian civilians, and further Russia's illegitimate war," Kirby added. "We will continue to monitor for any additional DPRK arms shipments to Russia."
Pyongyang is looking for Russian fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment, and other advanced technologies in exchange for the aid it provided to Moscow, Kirby alleged.
"We are monitoring closely whether Moscow will provide Pyongyang with these materials, and we have already observed Russian ships offloading containers in the DPRK, which may constitute the initial deliveries of material from Russia. This expanding military partnership between the DPRK and Russia, including any technology transfers from Russia to the DPRK, undermines regional stability."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian leader Vladimir Putin met in person last month when the former traveled to Russia in his first trip out of his country since the outbreak of COVID-19. This shipment of weapons departed North Korea on Sept. 7-8, about a week before their meeting in mid-September, though it did not get to its destination until Oct. 1.
Weeks before Kim's visit, the Biden administration announced that North Korean-Russian negotiations had "actively advanced."
Administration officials have said the DPRK provided Russia, specifically the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group, with infantry rockets and missiles.
The United States has sanctioned people or entities attempting to assist Russia in skirting around U.S. and Western sanctions, though the administration did not announce any new sanctions on Friday.
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Moscow has strengthened its partnership with Tehran during its war in Ukraine. Iran has provided Russia with hundreds of one-way drones that have been used to target Ukrainian infrastructure. Russia is attempting to build a local manufacturing plant to produce the drones, and U.S. officials have warned it could be at full production capacity by early next year.
Tehran has denied providing weapons to Russia despite U.S. confirmation from the military.