Why would Russia seek help from North Korea?
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(CNN) --
North Korea denied the latest US allegation that the country is trafficking arms with Russia, in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"We have never had 'arms deals' with Russia... there are no plans to do so in the future," the North Korean Defense Ministry's deputy director of Foreign Military Affairs said Monday, according to KCNA.
First on CNN: US Accuses North Korea of Trying to Hide Ammunition Shipments to Russia
"The United States is persistently spreading an unsubstantiated 'arms trafficking rumour'" between North Korea and Russia, the official said.
"We regard such moves by the US as part of its hostile attempt to tarnish the DPRK's image in the international arena," he added, using the country's official name.
North Korea's remarks come after a US report that the country is secretly supplying Russia with a significant amount of artillery shells for use in the Ukraine war and is trying to hide the shipments by making it appear that ammunition is shipped to countries in the Middle East or North Africa.
The report came after an earlier US statement in September that North Korea intends to supply Russia with weapons, including rockets and artillery shells, which North Korea immediately denied.
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North Korea looks closely at Ukraine.
This is the reason 2:38
Kylie Atwood and Katie Bo Lillis contributed to this report.
weaponsWar in Ukraine