The White House on Friday said North Korea recently provided Russia with a shipment of weapons, raising concerns about the expanded military relationship between the two countries.
The White House showed a series of satellite images that it said indicate cargo from an ammunition depot in North Korea (DPRK) was loaded on to a Russian-flagged ship and then taken by rail to a depot near Russia's southwestern border. The delivery took place between September 7 and October 1, the US said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for a rare summit last month at which they discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine and possible Russian help for the secretive state's satellite programme.
In return for support, North Korea is seeking military assistance from Russia, including fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armoured vehicles and other advanced technologies, Kirby said.
The US is closely monitoring whether Moscow will deliver the weapons, but early signs of Russian ships offloading materials in North Korea may represent initial deliveries, he added.
The US said it will continue to enforce sanctions and make the case at the United Nations that the actions violate security council resolutions.
Twenty-five years after the deadliest attack on US soil, Americans paused on Friday to commemorate the nearly 3,000 people killed when hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
Nigeria's parliament has suspended official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers to boycott South African-hosted legislative activities, citing reports of attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants there.
A shortage of air traffic controllers has caused flight cancellations and major delays at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, the federal agency responsible for managing Australia's air traffic said.
Philippine firefighters on Friday managed to board a burned-out ferry more than a day after the ship caught fire on its way from Manila to the western province of Palawan, killing five people and leaving more than 80 missing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, their second meeting in two weeks, that is expected to focus on trade, energy and defence ties between the two countries, which have long been friends.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany, as part of his state visit to the country.
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has arrived in India for the 18th BRICS Summit, taking place in New Delhi from September 12 to 13.
The UAE's National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has reassured the public that there is no cause for concern over social media reports warning of severe impacts from the El Nino climate phenomenon, including claims of widespread flooding or unusual rainfall.