The influential sister of Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong, says Washington is escalating a “proxy war” aimed at destroying Moscow. Her comments come after the US announced plans to supply Ukraine with advanced battle tanks to help fight off Russia’s invasion.
North Korea has displayed a deepening alignment with Russia throughout the war in Ukraine. Ms. Kim has now claimed the Biden administration has been “further crossing the red line” by sending support to Ukraine.
The decision reflects a “sinister intention to realize its hegemonic aim by further expanding the proxy war for destroying Russia”, she fumed in comments carried by North Korean state media.
She said: “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.”
She added. “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 also stated that, North Korea will always “stand in the same trench” with Russia.
North Korea is the only nation other than Russia and Syria to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
At the same time, on Friday Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that the Third World War could come if Russian tanks were to reach Kyiv, responding to threats from Moscow of escalation after Western heavy tank shipments. “World War III would start the moment Russian tanks arrived in Kiev and on the borders of Europe. Making sure they do not arrive is the only way to stop World War III,” he said during an event in Rome.
