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During a video call this week, US and Chinese officials discussed concerns about the strengthening military relations between North Korea and Russia, as well as North Korea’s actions that contribute to regional instability.

Jung Pak, a US senior official focused on North Korea, and her Chinese counterpart, Liu Xiaoming, highlighted the issue as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. She said, “The growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea was in violation of numerous UN Security Council resolutions,” pointing out Russia’s increased involvement with Pyongyang since the Ukraine invasion in 2022.

Debris (recovered in Ukraine) of what looked like a KN-23 ballistic missile | Courtesy of SBU

The United States has accused North Korea of providing military supplies to Russia for use in Ukraine, a charge both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied, even as they pledged to enhance their military cooperation.

This all comes after a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where they “affirmed the importance of continued communication on [North Korea] issues at all levels.” Amid these diplomatic efforts, the US has also sanctioned entities, including those in China, for aiding Russia’s military actions.