SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea, responding to the U.S. decision to provide $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine, has called the move a “reckless mistake” and a dangerous provocation against nuclear power Russia.
The statement came from Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington to secure support, including advanced long-range weapons to counter Russia’s aggression.
Kim Yo Jong warned that the U.S. is escalating the Ukraine conflict and pushing Europe toward the brink of nuclear war. She criticized Washington and its Western allies for underestimating Russia’s warnings and engaging in what she described as “playing with fire” against a nuclear superpower.
Her statement echoes earlier threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has cautioned that any missile attack on Russia, especially with support from a nuclear-armed state, would be treated as a joint assault, potentially triggering a nuclear response.
Kim also denounced the U.S. aid as a dangerous gamble, prolonging the war in Ukraine and complicating the global security landscape. North Korea and Russia have recently strengthened their ties, agreeing on a “comprehensive strategic partnership” that includes mutual defense, despite accusations of illegal arms shipments between the two nations, which both governments deny.