U.S. says Russia seeking more N Korean arms; names broker

"With the support of Russian officials, Mkrtychev has been attempting to broker a secret arms agreement between Russia and North Korea," he said.

More proof that Russia is running out of arms. Yet, many on this forum doubt it.

Russia is a sovereign nation that has every right to buy weapons from whoever it likes. Japan buys them from USA which illegally invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, and is presently illegally invaded Syria’s oil rich territory.

It doesn’t look like Russia has much of a military if it’s so dependent on a backward country like North Korea.

More proof that Russia is running out of arms

...sure, but also proof the Biden administration pushed an unprepared Russia into an unnecessary, unplanned war....not exactly hard to logically deduct.

The priority should be how to end the sufferings, the war, and rebuild.

Russia says, Nato and other countries keep putting gasoline in the fire.

Russia is running out of weapons for the 10th time in the last year...... More projection.

In other news not covered in the western media:

The Russian economy has returned to growth and inflation is running at about 3% and falling. Falling below the target signalling interest rates to be reduced, further fueling sound economic growth.

More news about the hypersonic missile strike outside Lvov a few weeks ago. There was a bunker 120m below ground. A few 100 NATO officers were inside. Americans, British and Poles. So far 40 bodies have been recovered. There are about 300. The Ukrainians didn't specify whether that was 300 + or including the 40 already recovered. Any of them not killed in the strike would have long ago run out of air and water.

To that end, thankfully Russia is well and truly winning the economic war and the military conflict. Thankfully. If Russia were to lose, the global rampage NATO would go on is chilling to think about. All those hospitals, schools, railroads and etc China has built in Africa over the last 20 years would be rubble within a few months. Africans aren't allowed to be educated, have health care and etc! Many countries want to trade in Yuan. So USA can stop exporting inflation to those. If Russia lost, those countries could forget about that if the leaders want to live.

"Today's action is a clear message that the United States will not relent in targeting those who provide support to Russia's aggression and brutal war against Ukraine," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Good. Keep the good fight going.

U.S. says Russia seeking more N Korean arms

The White House said Thursday that Russia is seeking more arms from North Korea for the Ukraine war

"We have new information that Russia is actively seeking to acquire additional munitions from North Korea,"

Under discussion was for North Korea to ship "over two dozen" kinds of weapons and munitions to Russia

The Russians signing their own death warrants… hilarious…

In exchange, Pyongyang would obtain cash, commercial aircraft, commodities and raw materials.

and is offering Pyongyang food in exchange for munitions.

Pathetic little countries…

Rodney

Russia is a sovereign nation that has every right to buy weapons from whoever it likes.

No, it doesn't. There are UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit it.

It doesn’t look like Russia has much of a military if it’s so dependent on a backward country like North Korea.

Russia hasn’t used hardly any of its advanced weapons or elite forces so far. Once NATO is exhausted, they will suddenly appear.

if NK is so backward, how come most citizens are happy, they don’t waste time and money on politicians who have relations with sex workers and celebrity gossip, and have some very advanced weapons, including remote control underwater nukes?

Hmmm Russia is using arms dealers now?

Dont we all know one of those who was exchanged for.....a basketball player?

@2020.

There are also the most UN resolutions against Israel, which gets more than $4billion in military aid, that is constantly bombing Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and West Bank in Palestine. Regardless of UN Resolutions. The UN is also headquartered in USA who can decide which diplomats and leaders are allowed to attend. USA has also threatened holding back funding if the UN doesn’t withhold the West’s rules-based imperialism.

so, do you think the UN is free and independent?

Again the "running out of ammunition" claim.

What is that the 360th day of claiming?

He said the man, identified as Ashot Mkrtychev, 56, of Bratislava, was working on arms-related sales and barter deals between the two countries between late 2022 and the early part of this year.

Why both countries have diplomatic ties no need for a middle man.

Then in November Kirby said North Korea was shipping the ammunition to Russia but obfuscating the trade by making it look like it was sending arms to the Middle East or North Africa.

Again why?

Any shipment would avoid interception by using the rail system that connects both countries.

Yes this propaganda works because no one in the west bothers looking up simple facts .

Moscow and Pyongyang would deal directly, they trade regularly via the rail system as they have been doing for decades.

Or ships to Vladivostok then rail or Russian ship no one dares stop.

So the whole story makes no sense.

so of Russia buys guns abroad its a problem,if UA regime gest NATo weapons its a "help"

nice doublespeak

btw that guy named have slovakian citizenship but he is immigrant from Armenia.you should do better job journos.

Zelensky told Japan from his own mouth that he is out of ammo and cant do the counter offensive until he is given more.

But yeah Russia is supposedly the one who is out of ammo- for 14 months straight now.

Meanwhile in the real world... double standards US has supplied $160billion with of arms and support to Ukraine to keep this stupid war going ad infinitum but that's OK cause the US makes the rules.....

I can just imagine the conversation based on the USA claims.

Putin: hey Kim, we would like to buy a load of ammunition!

Kim: Sorry mate, you need to go through our EU base broker.

Putin: so how will we get our purchase?

Kim: well because of sanctions we will have to pretend to ship something else to ME or Africa and then divert it clandestinely to Russia.

Putin: why not just send it by rail or to Vladivostok?

Kim: oh that it to simple I mean what would the USA think? No no no we are supposed to be not smart, so let's do it the long complicated way.

Putin: oh yes I forgot the western narrative, we need to observe.

At least this is what Anthony Blinken would like you to believe.

This is an escalation, warmongering, just prolonging the people's suffering, etc.

Oh wait, NK is providing weapons to Russia? Ah, it's great then! /s

Have you guys heard about the big news today?

Bakhmut holds! :)

Ah yes, saving the good stuff for when it's really needed, right? Now is the time to just sacrifice a hundred thousand or so "losers" as a warmup.

And yes, NK is indeed the pearl of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Thanks for sharing.

Russia hasn’t used hardly any of its advanced weapons or elite forces so far. Once NATO is exhausted, they will suddenly appear.

if NK is so backward, how come most citizens are happy, they don’t waste time and money on politicians who have relations with sex workers and celebrity gossip, and have some very advanced weapons, including remote control underwater nukes?

But yeah Russia is supposedly the one who is out of ammo- for 14 months straight now.

You seem to have immense difficulty understanding the difference between 'having none of' and 'having less of'.

You've been having this difficulty for '14 months straight now.'

UChosePoorly

Today 09:37 am JST

Have you guys heard about the big news today?

> Bakhmut holds! :)

I explained and suggested you watch a few channels explaining things but you prefer western propaganda.

I suggested a few channels that are neutral, you refuse to even look.

If you understand Ukrainian ( I don't) then view Deepstate ultra pro Ukraine.

But as suspected the reason Russia hasn't closed the circle is because they are going for "Chasiv yar" as there are underground tunnels from that city into Bakhmut so no point in wasting time completing a circle.

https://youtu.be/nc4TiMcQU2o

This guy again neutral ( well more pro Ukraine) explains it well,

"Willy OAM" does a good job very much pro Ukraine from Australia but mostly accepts facts and says where he get his data.

But as suspected the reason Russia hasn't closed the circle is because they are going for "Chasiv yar" as there are underground tunnels from that city into Bakhmut so no point in wasting time completing a circle.

Just because the shark is there, doesn't mean you have to jump it.

Lets add this story to the rest of the fake news.

The fake video and photos claiming Russia is preparing T34 T55 tanks.

The fake news Putin used body doubles in Crimea ( debunked by France 24).

So now this tale of secret middle men, clandestine shipping, arms deals., What next James Bond?

But it does sound better than Putin asks Kim for weapons in exchange for oil, and Kim ships the ammunition via rail to Moscow.

2020hindsightsToday  07:03 am JST

"With the support of Russian officials, Mkrtychev has been attempting to broker a secret arms agreement between Russia and North Korea," he said.

More proof that Russia is running out of arms. Yet, many on this forum doubt it.

Kissing up to Kimmy of NK. Buying drones from Iran. Them UN sanctions are really kicking in hard - yeah, Puddy Boy? You thought this war would be a clean sweep, an EZ Street by now - didn't you?

Russia is getting desperate, seeking weaponry and help from these 'little' nations like Iran and NK. The USSR would've never been in this position during the Cold War era. My how things have changed!

Rodney

@2020.

There are also the most UN resolutions against Israel, which gets more than $4billion in military aid, that is constantly bombing Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and West Bank in Palestine.

Whataboutism.

Regardless of UN Resolutions. The UN is also headquartered in USA who can decide which diplomats and leaders are allowed to attend.

Well only by upholding US immigration rules. It's not an extraordinary power.

USA has also threatened holding back funding if the UN doesn’t withhold the West’s rules-based imperialism.

I don't even know what this means.

so, do you think the UN is free and independent?

Yes.

Russia is low on ammo

The ammo used by the Russian army in Ukraine is roughly 20,000 rounds per day. Last year it was 60,000.

Putin miscalculated how long the war would last and thought it would be over in a few months.

Russia has lost half of its tanks in Ukraine.

The ammo used by the Russian army in Ukraine is roughly 20,000 rounds per day. Last year it was 60,000.

Now for the rest of the story.

When Russia was firing 50,000 to 60,000 a day Ukraine was firing 20,000 a day.

Today Ukraine is firing 3,000 to 4,000 a day Russia 20,000 to 30,000.

Could it be because the fitting change as well as the area, and the slowdown due to winter and now the rain and mud halting a lot of the fighting!

Amazing how people get sucked in by propaganda headlines.

Just one example of running low as you claim.

I made no such claim.

You seem to have trouble with differentiating 'claim' and 'not ever claim'.

Add to that you are having trouble with 'having less of' and 'running low'.

And course you have always had trouble with 'horses' and 'zebras'.

Antiquesaving

You seem to have immense difficulty understanding the difference between 'having none of' and 'having less of'.

You've been having this difficulty for '14 months straight now.'*

Actually it is you with the difficulty understanding facts.

Even the top pro Ukraine military and MSM say Russia has consistently out fired ( fired more rounds) than Ukraine.

This has never been disputed. Russia's attack style is heavily reliant and wasteful of artillery shells.

So if Ukraine says regularly they are running low, Russia has regularly and consistently out fired Ukraine, it seems difficult to keep believing the propaganda that Russia is running out or low on ammunition.

Ukraine's supply of ammunition has nothing to do with Russia's supply of ammunition. So, this is not a logical argument.

The only time was when Wagner and a Russian general were having a disagreement and the general withheld ammunition.

And because ammunition is in short supply, the Russian army get priority.

You can keep believing the USA propaganda or look at more neutral sources for news.

Who says we are believing US propaganda. The facts are obvious. Buying arms from North Korea is just one piece of a lot of evidence.

Putin had not planned for the war lasting years rather than months. The usage of ammo is greater than the production.

You know who has no ammo for the promised “spring offensive” all of you been waiting for?

ukraine.

how do I know?

Zelensky admitted so.

few questions

Russia and DPRK have direct connection by bridge and rail.Russia have own embassy in DPRK and DPRK have own embassy in Moscow.If russians are "desperate" and have "no ammo" why they will need use service of some armenian with sk passport as ru gov could buy directly from dprk gov without saying a single word publicly?

who can believe to your proUA propaganda getting lower iq levels everyday as often missing anuy basic common sense?you are underestimating your readers very hard...

reality is that NATO countries have empty stocks with weaponry as have sent most of it to UA.no spare bullets,no spare ammo of own armies.own monthly eu productions of weapons and amm is far greater than russian one.who wants to know and verify my lines can find tons on info at many official websites/not JT/ from even eu governments or official eu gov channels.

reality is that UA not doing really great at battlefield as have used almost all of own human sources/since many men have fled country and some are even in Japan and "fightning for UA" at pages of JT only/ and presents from abroad ranking from outaded NATO weponry to outdated sovet made weponry from east europen NATo members who sending junk to UA and labelling it as "help".

reality is that this conflict is ignited by USA,UA soldiers are fightning against russians /and own ua citizens with russian nationality/in name of US interests.Its USA who have did everything to destroy EU economies by blowing nordstream,freezing russian assets in usd and euro abroad,by sanctions.its USA who making great profit by selling of outdated overpriced weaponry to UA and east european NATO states.Its USA who making a lot of money from suffering of UA,russian and EU people.Business as usual.USA cant survive without conflict,war and killing.

reality is that NATO countries have empty stocks with weaponry

Lol, another one.

Since when did Putin apologists un-learn the difference between, 'having none of' and 'having less of'?

Blacklabel, Antique, now Eastman. Remarkable.

Japan buys them from USA 

Not entirely factual.

Japan buys the manufacturing license from private companies and produces them locally.

Mitsubishi and Ishikawa-Harima make the F-35 and F-15.

The service rifle and machine guns are licensed from Fabrique Nationale, which is a Belgian company. Ships and submarines are all built locally by Mitsui and Kawasaki.

To my knowledge, the only purely American weapon the Japanese military uses is the Remington M700 sniper rifle.

The priority should be how to end the sufferings, the war, and rebuild.

Agreed. Russian troops need to leave all Ukrainian land and Russia needs to start paying reparations to Ukraine for at least the next 20 yrs to they can rebuild.

There's no price that can return all the dead on both sides. For those payments, I suggest the Russian people deal with their leaders in a typical Russian manner. Put them in jail in Siberia for the rest of their lives. After all, the weak leaders have caused over 200K dead.

NATO didn't push Russia into anything. It is purely Russian fear that got former USSR members to seek NATO membership. That's 100% on Russia.

Meanwhile in the real world... double standards US has supplied $160billion with of arms and support to Ukraine to keep this stupid war going ad infinitum but that's OK cause the US makes the rules.....

Ah yes, supplying weapons to Ukraine to defend itself really is the same as North Korea selling weapons to Russia to wage war.

Zelensky admitted so.

And then he went on to say the offensive will probably take place in a month or two. Keep going. :D

Russia seeking more N Korean arms

So...may be...

Slovakian man allegedly brokering deals between Moscow and Pyongyang.

What?? Slovakian man??? May be some guys from Puerto-Rico?

Putin has direct contact with Kim

OlegekToday 12:45 pm JST

Russia seeking more N Korean arms

So...may be...

Slovakian man allegedly brokering deals between Moscow and Pyongyang.

What?? Slovakian man??? May be some guys from Puerto-Rico?

Putin has direct contact with Kim

Olegek-that guys name is Ashok and he is originally from Armenia,he got citizenship in Slovakia so by citizenship he is citizen of Slovakia but by nationality he is armenian.

yes all of this crap makes zero sense.Putin will make call to Kim and deal is done but americans "found out" that he used some armenian guy instead...very "trustworthy"...something like story abt uncle Skripal and novichok when he have survived easily with help of local doctors who was available in few moments from time of poisoning.and sure-its is "true" we have to believe in.

Skazki.

ClippetyClop

Today 11:41 am JST

reality is that NATO countries have empty stocks with weaponry

> Lol, another one.

> Since when did Putin apologists un-learn the difference between, 'having none of' and 'having less of'?

> Blacklabel, Antique, now Eastman. Remarkable.

We know the difference we also know how to read.

We don't just take Washington soundbites as facts.

https://www.newsweek.com/nato-allies-would-run-out-ammunition-within-days-war-russia-report-says-1780851?amp=1

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/02/17/politics/us-weapons-factories-ukraine-ammunition/index.html

And one German

https://amp.dw.com/en/ukraine-war-is-the-army-running-out-of-ammunition/a-64710592

What reality is this? Russia is the one who ignited a war by invading a sovereign country.

The only beneficiary of this war is possibly China, as it's draining everyone else's resources but theirs. They probably also benefit from the Nordstream blast (more cheap gas). By this logic, China must have ignited the war and blew up the pipeline, right?

reality is that this conflict is ignited by USA,UA soldiers are fightning against russians /and own ua citizens with russian nationality/in name of US interests.Its USA who have did everything to destroy EU economies by blowing nordstream,freezing russian assets in usd and euro abroad,by sanctions.its USA who making great profit by selling of outdated overpriced weaponry to UA and east european NATO states.Its USA who making a lot of money from suffering of UA,russian and EU people.Business as usual.USA cant survive without conflict,war and killing.

Despite the pressure Western nations may feel about increasing weapons production, Reno noted that "Russia is faced with an even worse crunch of this sort."

ClippetyClopToday  11:41 am JST

*reality is **that NATO countries have empty stocks with weaponry*

Lol, another one.

Since when did Putin apologists un-learn the difference between, 'having none of' and 'having less of'?

I dont know why I am labelled like "Putin apologist" but anyway.

Every military have stock of weaponry-guns,bullets,tanks etc,rockets.

East EU countries were "urged" by whitehouse to give it to UA/countries like Czech,Slovakia,Poland,Romania/as USA want send own utdared and overrpuced archaic ones to them instead.

these countries have moved old stock of mostly warsaw pact times weaponry to UA since heroi knows how to use them and dont need any special training.

say SK gov gave S300 system and MIG31 planes.US guys came,get and brought home,using now.

but same time there is say "no touch inventory" sk army have to keep as minimum,say tanks T72 etc so in fact sk cant give more weapons than gave already,in fact sk have weapons left but needed for own army,for own protection and security.this means that SK have no more stock to give to UA.same thing applies for other countries as well.

yes there is difference between "having none of" and "having less off".I would say there is very important difference between "old stock we can give away" and "necessary stock we cant give away".

got it mr fact checker?

fallaffelToday  12:52 pm JST

What reality is this? Russia is the one who ignited a war by invading a sovereign country.

Shalom.

Before you go to B you have to start from A.

Russia have expressed lot of times own concerns about NATO and UA joint war games and also about situation at own borders with UA.HAve asked NATO many times to discuss,lower tensions and make a deal-neutral UA and promise that NATO will not expand further too RU borders.

Reality is that USA have prepared this war for years since 2014 after maidan and have sent a lot of wepons,money and instructors to UA.

Reality is that USA and NATO have largely ignored and understimate Russia as they thought that Russia will bend on front of them again.

They were wrong.

Action reaction.

if you are talking about consequences you have better to start talk about reasons first.

UChosePoorly

Today 12:57 pm JST

Reno noted that "Russia is faced with an even worse crunch of this sort."

Hummm

William Reno, professor and chair of the political science department at Northwestern University,

A political science professor.

Well that's it if he says so it must be true, I heard he called up Putin and directly asked him and Putin himself told the professor this. Now end of sarcasm.

If this was true and as we are told Ukraine is down to around 3,000 shells a day and Russia still firing 20,000 either Russia has a stockpile far greater than all 30 NATO countries or some professor got it wrong.

AS - That's from your article. Did you even read the articles you linked to?

Ok.

I know many here believe anything the USA tells them but ask yourself does it make sense? Why would Putin need to go through all the trouble the USA is claiming it is doing?

Putin would just directly call Kim offer oil get ammunition.

Now why would Putin but NK shells?

Well they are the same shells, do the same job and bases on multiple factors would cost far less especially since it would be more likely oil for ammunition.

A win win for Russia and NK.

UChosePoorly

Today 01:21 pm JST

AS - That's from your article. Did you even read the articles you linked to

Yes I did, but I ignore speculations made by people with no actual knowledge.

We know the USA ammunition situation because the USA military has made it public as they are worth.

The professor's view on the situation in Russia is pure speculation on his part which is 100% pro USA/Ukraine bias.

So, NATO helping train/arm Ukraine to defend itself from Russia (who had just illegally annexed Crimea...) justifies Russia invading Ukraine? It's classic victim blaming.

In this century, nothing justifies invading a country and stealing its land. You say you want peace, but make excuses every day for Russia's invasion.

Shalom.

Before you go to B you have to start from A.

Russia have expressed lot of times own concerns about NATO and UA joint war games and also about situation at own borders with UA.HAve asked NATO many times to discuss,lower tensions and make a deal-neutral UA and promise that NATO will not expand further too RU borders.

Reality is that USA have prepared this war for years since 2014 after maidan and have sent a lot of wepons,money and instructors to UA.

Reality is that USA and NATO have largely ignored and understimate Russia as they thought that Russia will bend on front of them again.

We know the USA ammunition situation because the USA military has made it public as they are worth.

It sounds like you might just believe what you want to believe.

Agreed. Russian troops need to leave all Ukrainian land and Russia needs to start paying reparations to Ukraine for at least the next 20 yrs to they can rebuild.

Reality is that USA have prepared this war for years since 2014 after maidan and have sent a lot of wepons,money and instructors to UA.

In a sense, we have been preparing for this war for a lot longer than that.

Munition gave to Ukraine

"The United States will transfer military equipment worth up to $400 million to Ukraine to aid its defense against the Russian invasion, Defense Department officials said today. This security assistance package features ammunition and support equipment to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs. Mar 3, 2023"

DOD.

Arms Transfers to Ukraine

"On March 30, 15 Viktor air defense systems were sent from the Czech Republic to Ukraine as part of the "Gift for Putin" initiative (see initiative here). Germany has also updated its list of military equipment sent to Ukraine, including the confirmed delivery of 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks (four more than originally pledged), 40 Marder infantry fighter vehicles, 2 Bergepanzer 3 armoured recovery vehicles, 2 Wisent mine clearing tanks, and 52 Zetros trucks (see official list here). "

Select Timeline - 2022-2023

https://www.forumarmstrade.org/ukrainearms.html

UChosePoorly

Today 01:29 pm JST

We know the USA ammunition situation because the USA military has made it public as they are worth.

> It sounds like you might just believe what you want to believe.

Well so do you.

But you and everyone here still haven't given a single logical reason Russia would go through the long complicated way the USA claims instead of just quietly trading directly with NK.

Why ships to ME/Africa and not train directly?

The whole thing just doesn't make sense.

So give a logical reason that explains the USA claims.