US: ‘China’s Support Is Prolonging the War’ Between Russia and Ukraine

North Korea's decision to send troops to Russia is escalating. On Thursday, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood spoke about the latest developments and condemned China for its large-scale support for Moscow as the war in Ukraine persists. China continues to downplay its large-scale support for Russia's defense industrial base, providing materials key to Russia's defense production. China cannot credibly claim to be a voice for peace when it enables Russia to wage the largest war in Europe in decades. China's support to Russia is decisive. China's support is prolonging the war. The Chinese shipments Wood mentioned include weapons, components and missile technology. The U.N. meeting also called out Chinese companies that have helped Russia make long-range attack drones. Washington imposed sanctions on nearly 400 entities Wednesday, including Chinese entities, for their ties to Moscow's invasion. China's ambassador to the U.N. dismissed the American diplomat's accusations and accused Washington of smearing Beijing and harming Chinese entities. Wood also touched on the North Korean forces in Russia right now. DPRK is the formal name of the North Korean military. We just received some information just coming in minutes ago that indicates that there are right now 8,000 DPRK soldiers in Kursk Oblast. And I have a very respectful question for my Russian colleague. Does Russia still maintain that there are no DPRK troops in Russia? That's my only question and my final point. Thank you. Earlier this week, three top U.S. diplomats sat down with the Chinese ambassador to Washington. They urged Beijing to use its influence curtail cooperation between Russia and North Korea to de-escalate tensions. Beijing has stayed silent since then. On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are deployed in Russia. He and Defense Chief Lloyd Austin hosted their South Korean counterparts in Washington the same day to discuss next steps in deterring the Moscow alliance. Is the Arctic becoming an emerging battleground between U.S. and China-led alliances? Michael Straga is the first U.S. ambassador at large for Arctic affairs. He called growing cooperation in the region between Russia and China concerning. But he added that Washington is closely watching the situation and has stayed vigilant and diligent. Russia and the United States are among eight countries with territory in the resource-rich Arctic. China calls itself a near-Arctic country and wants to create a new shipping route there, especially as polar ice sheets recede with rising temperatures.