Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are said to have agreed to exchange food and other goods needed by North Korea for weapons needed by Russia, according to information available to the White House.

As the BBC reports, citing the statements of the press representative of the National Security Council of the White House, Moscow, and Pyongyang concluded a relevant agreement.

In a press conference, John Kirby claimed that as part of this proposed deal, Russia would receive over 20 types of weapons and ammunition from Pyongyang.

They remain concerned that North Korea will provide further support to Russia’s military operations against Ukraine, the US National Security Council spokesman said, adding that they have new information that Russia is actively seeking to acquire additional munitions from Pyongyang.

North Korea is facing a food crisis with the situation worsening since Kim Jong Un took power. Pyongyang’s leader has promised his fellow citizens to strengthen state control over agriculture and take several measures to increase grain production. So far, however, the situation remains dramatic.

Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department’s Foreign Assets Control Service announced sanctions against Slovakian Assot Mrticev, who allegedly tried to facilitate arms deals between Russia and North Korea.

It is recalled that the US has previously accused the Pyongyang administration of supplying weapons to the Wagner paramilitary group as well as to the Russians fighting on the Ukrainian front. However, Kim Jong Un’s government has denied the allegations.

However, it is worth noting that any arms deal with Russia would be a violation of UN resolutions, according to which North Korea is prohibited from exporting or importing weapons from other countries.

The BBC recalls that North Korea is the only country, apart from Russia and Syria, that recognizes the independence of the Moscow-controlled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.

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