US slaps sanctions on 3 Russian entities, 1 person over arms transfers with N. Korea

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby speaks about alleged North Korean ballistic missiles fired by Russia into Ukraine during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., Jan. 4. Reuters-Yonhap

The United States imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one individual for their involvement in the transfer and testing of North Korean ballistic missiles for Russia's use against Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.

The sanctions came after the White House said that the North has provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles, some of which were used to strike Ukrainian targets on Dec. 30, Jan. 2 and Saturday.

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"The DPRK's transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia supports Russia's war of aggression, increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, and undermines the global nonproliferation regime," Blinken said in a statement. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"The United States continues to closely monitor any Russian-provided support to the DPRK in return for these weapons and will use all available tools to designate and expose individuals and entities involved in arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia." (Yonhap)