Putin uses ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea to blitz Ukraine

A view of a fire burning near a car dealership after a missile strike in Kyiv on January 2 (Picture: EPA)

Putin has used ballistic missiles from North Korea in Ukraine, according to the US.

Russia launched the missiles which have a range of 550 miles into Ukraine on Tuesday as part of an overnight attack and the US is assessing the damage.

The missiles were first used in Ukraine on December 30, where one landed in a field near Zaporizhzhia region.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles.

In return North Korea wants Russia to provide it with aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment and other advanced technologies.

This all supports South Korea’s assessment that North Korea has increased its cooperation with Moscow.

South Korea suspected North Korea had sent an unspecified number of short-range ballistic missiles, anti-tank missiles and portable anti-air missiles to Russia, in addition to rifles, rocket launchers, mortars and shells in November.

Biden has said Russia has become reliant on North Korea and Iran for arms used in the war against Ukraine.

Putin and Kim Jong Un met up together in September (Picture: AP)

The UK has condemned Russia’s move, with the Foreign Office saying: ‘The UK strongly condemns Russia’s decision to use ballistic missiles sourced from North Korea in recent attacks against Ukraine. We urge North Korea to cease its arms supply to Russia.

‘Russia is turning to North Korea for its weapons in pursuit of its cynical and ill-conceived military aims in Ukraine. This is symptomatic of its isolation on the world stage and a sign of its desperation.

‘Furthermore, this activity is in violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions – which Russia supported as a permanent member.

‘Any support for North Korea’s own illegal weapons programmes risks significantly undermining the UN’s long standing commitment to security, and further destabilising the region.

‘North Korea is subject to a robust sanctions regime, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine.’

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Mr Kirby also warned Russia is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran as it struggles to replenish supplies.

But Mr Kirby said a Russia-Iran deal had not been completed but that the US ‘is concerned that Russia’s negotiations to acquire close range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing’.

The White House warned Russia has received hundreds of one-way attack drones, as well as drone production-related equipment from Iran.

The US also said Iran has provided Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow.

Mr Kirby said the US will raise this with the UN Security Council and will look to impose additional sanctions against North Korean and Iranian individuals and entities facilitating weapons transfers with Russia.

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