The White House announced on Thursday that North Korea has provided weapons to Wagner, a private military company operating in Russia. The White House described Wagner as a “rival” for control of the Kremlin’s defense and other ministries.
According to White House national security spokesman John Kirby, the United States will increase sanctions against Wagner as a result of North Korea’s supply of infantry rockets and missiles to the organization last month in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
“Wagner is searching around the world for arms suppliers to support its military operations in Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters.
“We can confirm that North Korea has completed an initial arms delivery to Wagner, which paid for that equipment,” he said.
According to Kirby, the organization is investing more than $100 million per month in its operations in Ukraine while also being independent of the Russian defense apparatus and waging a brutal siege on Bakhmut, Ukraine.
According to Kirby, “Wagner is establishing itself as a competing power center to the Russian military and other Russian ministries.”
