North Korea: The influential sister of North Korean leader Mr. Kim Jong Un has denounced the US plan to arm Ukraine with cutting-edge battle tanks to aid in the fight against Russian forces, accusing Washington of crossing a “red line” and waging a “proxy war” intended to topple Moscow.

Ms. Kim Yo Jong remarked that North Korea’s growing allegiance to Russia during the conflict in Ukraine, as well as its confrontation with the US and its Asian allies over its own expanding nuclear weapons and missile program.

“I express serious concern over the US escalating the war situation by providing Ukraine with military hardware for ground offensive,” Ms. Kim Yo Jong cited in a statement.

“The US 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,” Ms. Kim, who is vice-department director of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea.

Ms. Kim made the remarks after the US announced that it will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, ending months of uncertainty on Washington’s part. The announcement was broadcast by the nation’s official Korean Central News Agency. Following Germany’s decision to lend Ukraine 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its own stockpiles, the US made its declaration.

According to Ms. Kim, was “further crossing the red line” and demonstrating a “sinister desire to fulfil its hegemonic purpose by further expanding the proxy war for destroying Russia” by sending its major tanks to Ukraine, US President Mr. Joe Biden’s administration.

According to North Korea, the US is to responsible for the Ukrainian conflict because of the West’s “hegemonic policy,” which compelled Russia to use armed force to defend its security interests. In addition, Donetsk and Luhansk, two separatist territories in eastern Ukraine supported by Russia, are the only countries outside of Russia and Syria to recognise their independence. North Korea has also made suggestions that it may send personnel to assist in the region’s reconstruction.

The US has accused North Korea of shipping massive quantities of artillery shells and other ammunition to Russia to help its war in Ukraine despite North Korea’s repeated denials,  Furthermore, Pyongyang has sped up the development of its arsenal, test-firing more than 70 missiles in 2022 alone, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that might be equipped with nuclear warheads.

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