North Korea denies exporting military equipment to Russia

North Korea said Thursday it has never exported military equipment to Russia nor does it have such plans, after a U.S. intelligence report earlier this month indicated otherwise.

"I don't know where the U.S. is throwing out the baseless 'arms trade theory,' but its purpose is to tarnish the image of our Republic," said a senior North Korea's Defense Ministry officials, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. 

"We have never exported weapons or ammunition to Russia in the past, and we have no plans to do so in the future," also said the official, accusing the United States of "recklessly" spreading anti-North Korean "conspiracy theories."

The U.S. intelligence report indicated that Russia was purchasing millions of shells and rockets from North Korea to use in its invasion of Ukraine, showing that Western sanctions were making it more difficult for Moscow to obtain weapons.