North Korea says to ‘stand in the same trench’ as Russia against US

North Korea has denounced the US pledges of sending battle tanks to Ukraine, saying that the decision reflects a “sinister intention” and Washington is “further crossing the red line” to win hegemony by proxy war.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s influential sister Kim Yo Jong on Saturday warned against Washington’s escalating actions, stating that North Korea will “stand in the same trench” as Russia against the US.

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

The US has accused North Korea of sending large supplies of artillery shells and other ammunition to Russia to support its offensive in Ukraine, although North Korea has repeatedly denied the claim.

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

“I do not doubt that any military hardware the US and the West boast of will be burnt into pieces in the face of the indomitable fighting spirit and might of the heroic Russian army and people,” she said.

The United States’ controversial move of supplying Ukraine with battle tanks reflects a “sinister intention to realize its hegemonic aim by further expanding the proxy war for destroying Russia,” she noted.

Kim’s comments came as the US said it will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, reversing months of indecision by Washington on the issue.

The US announcement followed Germany’s prolonged decision to also provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its own stocks.