The Facts
- US national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that Russia is offering North Korea food in exchange for weapons. The US has previously accused North Korea — and other regimes like Iran — of backing Russia's campaign in Ukraine.
- Though Pyongyang has denied the claims, the US claims it has discovered new details of the alleged aid given to Russia by the North — including providing arms to the Russian mercenary Wagner Group.
- Kirby said Russia is seeking more than two dozen kinds of weapons from North Korea as part of a series of deals, adding that, "Any arms deal between North Korea and Russia would directly violate a series of U.N. Security Council resolutions."
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
To provide transparency to the world and combat Russia's growing ties with other authoritarian regimes, the Biden admin. is releasing evidence of illegal arms deals between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. Washington's sanctions against these countries are in place for a reason, and any military agreements that could strengthen these oppressive governments must be stopped immediately. This is an affront to the democratic rules-based world order.
Establishment-critical narrative
Whether it be North Korea, China, or any other state being bullied by the US, Russia has every right to and must build coalitions with global partners to deter the aggressive economic and military provocation by American hegemony. And, unlike how the US treats its so-called allies, these partnerships are based on mutual respect and cooperation, not coercion and bad faith.
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