On Friday, January 27, 2023, North Korean leader’s sister condemned the decision by the United States to supply Ukraine with advanced battle tanks to help fight off Russia’s invasion.

The country claims that Washington is escalating a sinister “proxy war” aimed at destroying Moscow.

The comments by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un gave emphasis to the country’s deepening alignment with Russia over the war in Ukraine as it confronts the United States and its Asian allies over its own growing nuclear weapons and missiles program.

North Korea has blamed the United States for the crisis in Ukraine, insisting that the West’s “hegemonic policy” forced Russia to take military action to protect its security interests.

It has also used the distraction created by the war to accelerate its own weapons development, test-firing more than 70 missiles in 2022 alone, including potentially nuclear-capable weapons believed able to target South Korea and the U.S. mainland.

The United States has accused North Korea of sending large supplies of artillery shells and other ammunition to Russia to support its offensive in Ukraine, although North Korea has repeatedly denied the claim.

Kim Yo Jong’s comments, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, came after U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 that the United States will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine,

Biden’s announcement reversed months of arguments by Washington that the M1 Abrams tanks were too difficult for Ukrainian troops to operate and maintain. The U.S. decision followed Germany’s agreement to send 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its own stocks.

Crossing The Red Line

Kim added that the Biden administration was “further crossing the red line” by sending its main tanks to Ukraine and that the decision reflects a “sinister intention to realize its hegemonic aim by further expanding the proxy war for destroying Russia.”

“The U.S. is the arch criminal which poses serious threat and challenge to the strategic security of Russia and pushes the regional situation to the present grave phase. I do not doubt that any military hardware the U.S. and the West boast of will be burnt into pieces in the face of the indomitable fighting spirit and might of the heroic Russian army and people.”
Kim Yo Jong

Kim reiterated that North Korea will always “stand in the same trench” with Russia.

North Korea is the only nation other than Russia and Syria to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, and has also hinted at plans to send workers there to help with rebuilding efforts.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry cut off diplomatic ties with North Korea in response and condemned Pyongyang’s decision as undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Luhansk and Donetsk together make up the Donbas region, a mostly Russian-speaking region of steel factories, mines and other industries in Ukraine’s east.

Separatists have controlled parts of both provinces since 2014, but Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized their independence only shortly before the invasion began in February. Syria has since recognized their independence as well.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has effectively paralyzed the U.N. Security Council, where Russia is a veto-wielding permanent member, leaving an opening for North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un to push forward his weapons development as he tries to fortify North Korea’s status as a nuclear power and negotiate a removal of crippling U.S.-led sanctions from a position of increased strength.