Russia using missiles from North Korea to strike Ukraine, White House says

• U.S. intelligence officials have previously accused Pyongyang of supplying Moscow with weapons, but the BBC notes this is the first time U.S. intelligence has shared details about ballistic missiles.

State of play: U.S. intelligence information indicates that North Korea's military "recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several ballistic missiles," Kirby said, for Russian leader Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.

• "Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine" on Dec. 30 before using "multiple" more during aerial bombardment on Tuesday, according to Kirby.
• Putin vowed Monday to "intensify the strikes" on Ukraine military targets after his forces bombarded the country with an unprecedented number of Iranian-made drones.
• "The United States is concerned that Russian negotiations to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing," Kirby said.

• "We assess that Russia intends to purchase missile systems from Iran," added Kirby, who vowed the U.S. would impose further sanctions on anyone facilitating such weapons deals.

Between the lines: Russian and North Korean officials have denied conducting any weapons deals.

• However, Putin hinted that arms discussions were on the agenda when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a rare visit to Russia last September.

Go deeper... U.S.: North Korea "will pay a price" if it supplies arms to Russia