A photo taken on July 26, 2023, in Queensland, Australia, shows the U.S. Army’s tactical missile system ATACMS ground-to-ground missile. /Courtesy of the U.S. Army, AP, and Yonhap News
The White House has equated the provision of new 300 km range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine with North Korea’s supply of long-range missiles to Russia.
Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor at the White House, stated in a briefing on the 24th (local time) that the ATACMS missiles had already arrived in Ukraine last month. He added, “(The arrival) followed Russia’s procurement and use of North Korea’s ballistic missiles against Ukraine.”
Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, is seen selecting a reporter to ask a question during a regular briefing at the White House on the 24th (local time). /Courtesy of AP and Yonhap News
The U.S.’s provision of ATACMS is interpreted as playing a part in reversing the battlefield situation by compensating for Ukraine’s firepower inferiority due to North Korea’s large-scale supply of long-range missiles to Russia.
The newly provided ATACMS can strike Russian military bases, including the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.
However, Sullivan warned against overinterpretation and stated that one (military) capability cannot solve everything and that this war has no panacea.
In response to a question about the potential for long-range missile provision to provoke Russia, Sullivan pointed out, “What we have observed is Russia receiving long-range missiles from other countries, particularly North Korea, and using them not only on the battlefield but also to attack Ukrainian civilians.”
In response to a question about military cooperation among North Korea, Russia, and Iran, Sullivan said, “Episodically, over many years and many administrations, we’ve seen various linkages in defense cooperation between North Korea and Iran that have come and gone, ebbed and flowed.” He added, “What is new and different in the last two years is that Iran has been supplying drones to Russia in large quantities, and North Korea has been supplying various military capabilities, including shells and ballistic missiles in large quantities.”
He further stated, “We’re also concerned about what may happen in the other direction.” and, “What will Russia provide to North Korea or Iran that will destabilize the Indo-Pacific or destabilize the Middle East? So we are closely monitoring it.”
President Joe Biden of the United States is seen at a press conference at the White House on the 24th (local time) after signing a $95 billion U.S. security budget and a bill forcing the sale of TikTok, a video-sharing application headquartered in China. /Courtesy of AP and Yonhap News
Biden also mentioned North Korea’s weapons support for Russia after signing the U.S. security budget bill and the TikTok forced divestiture bill, which had passed both the Senate and the House earlier that morning.
At a press conference at the White House, Biden said, “For months, while MAGA(Make America Great Again) Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine’s been running out of artillery shells and ammunition,” and, “Meanwhile, Putin’s friends are keeping him well supplied. Iran sent drones, North Korea sent ballistic missiles and shells, and China provided parts and know-how to increase Russia’s defense production.”
The Biden administration announced on the same day that it would provide Ukraine with a $1 billion package of weapons and equipment. This includes anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), shells, Bradley armored vehicles, and precision air-strike munitions.
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