Missiles delivered by North Korea to Russia were used in the wide-scale attacks launched in recent days against Ukraine, the White House said Thursday, denouncing “the continuing and troubling escalation” of Pyongyang’s support for Moscow.

“Our information indicates that North Korea has recently delivered to Russia ballistic missile launch systems and multiple ballistic missiles,” some of which were used on Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 in strikes against Ukraine, the White House National Security Council spokesman said. House of John Kirby.

This statement by Kirby was made when the leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un called for increased production of rocket launchers during a visit to a military equipment factory in preparation for “a military confrontation” with South Korea and the US, state news agency KCNA reported today.

The transfer of this equipment highlights, according to Kirby, the need for the US Congress to approve Ukraine’s new military aid package.

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to “act without waiting any longer” after the “massive bombing” of Ukraine, as Republicans continue to place conditions on approving new aid to Kiev.

Ukraine’s air defenses, which have faced a barrage of bombing from Russia in recent days, remain an “absolute” priority, Kirby stressed.

Russian forces fired at least one of the North Korean-supplied missiles on Dec. 30, and it subsequently landed in a field in southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhia province, he said.

Then, on Jan. 2, Russia launched multiple missiles at Ukraine in a massive airstrike, Kirby added.

Violation of sanctions

The US and its allies now plan to take the issue to the UN Security Council, as handing over the missiles is a violation of sanctions the organization has imposed on North Korea, he said.

In October, the US announced that more than 1,000 containers containing military equipment and ammunition had been delivered to Russia by North Korea in recent weeks.

Seoul has also estimated that North Korea has given Russia more than a million artillery shells for its war in Ukraine in exchange for technical advice on its satellites.

In exchange for transferring military equipment to Moscow, Pyongyang is seeking to acquire Russian military equipment and “modern technologies,” Kirby had pointed out.

Russia and North Korea, historic allies, are subject to international sanctions – the former for its invasion of Ukraine and the latter for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Their growing military cooperation is a source of concern for Ukraine and its allies, especially after Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September in the Russian Far East.

According to Kirby, Russia also plans to buy missiles from Iran, another ally. “We will impose additional sanctions on those who facilitate the transfer of weapons from North Korea and Iran to Russia,” he stressed.