(LEAD) Russia asks N. Korea for ammunition, indicating challenges in Ukraine war: Pentagon

(ATTN: UPDATES with reports of state department press briefing, additional information in last 5 paras; ADDS photos)
By Byun Duk-kun

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- Russia has reached out to North Korea and Iran, a U.S. defense department spokesperson said Tuesday, in its apparently desperate search for ammunition.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder insisted Moscow's request for ammunition from North Korea demonstrates the difficulties Russia now faces due to its ongoing war against Ukraine.

"We do have indications that Russia has approached North Korea to request ammunition," the department press secretary said in a press briefing.

"I'm not able to provide any more detail than that at this point in time, but it does demonstrate and it is indicative of the situation that Russia finds itself in, in terms of its logistics and sustainment capabilities as it relates to Ukraine," the Air Force general added.

Ryder said Russia has specifically asked for ammunition, but declined to comment on what type of ammunition North Korea may offer.

"The information that we have is that Russia has specifically asked for ammunition. But in terms of the capabilities, I don't want to speculate on what Russia may or may not need beyond that or what they (North Korea) could offer," he said.

The Pentagon official also argued the fact that Russia has only reached out to Iran and North Korea, both of which have been labeled by the U.S. as "rogue nations," shows its status in the international community.

"This information is relevant to the fight in the sense that again, it's indicative of the situation that Russia finds itself in and shows the fact that they're trying to reach out to international actors like Iran and North Korea, they don't have the best record when it comes to international stability," he added.

A state department spokesperson later noted Russia may be in the process of purchasing "millions of rockets and artillery shells" from North Korea.

Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the department, reiterated the purchase indicates "severe supply shortages" Russia faces due to what he called U.S. sanctions and other lines of efforts to hold Russia accountable for its aggression in Ukraine.

The spokesperson also insisted Russia's purchase of ammunition from North Korea would violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions on Pyongyang.

"This would violate U.N. sanctions on the DPRK," said Patel, noting U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea prohibit any exchange of "arms and related material" with North Korea. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

"While all U.N. sanctions (violations) are a serious violation, I think particularly concerning here is that a permanent member of the Security Council is floating these measures," he said, referring to Russia's permanent membership in the Security Council.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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