 Putin had to beg North Korea to supply them with weapons for the Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin had to beg North Korea to supply them with weapons for the Ukrainian war, the UK Defence Secretary said. The world has turned its back on Russia, forcing Putin into the humiliation of going cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going. Grant Shaps wrote on X. The White House said that North Korea had recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several dozen ballistic missiles. This is a significant and concerning escalation in the North Korea's support for Russia, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a press conference. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had declared his support for Putin's sacred fight with the West when they met in September per Reuters. Now Russia has risen to the sacred fight to protect its sovereignty and security against the hegemonic forces that oppose Russia, Kim said then. And now we want to further develop the relationship. We will always support the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership. Kim continued. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has seen its struggle under the weight of crippling sanctions from the West. A shortage of arms has also caused Russia to turn to countries like North Korea and Iran for weapons.