**Chinese Man Arrested in US for Shipping Arms to North Korea**
A 41-year-old Chinese man, Shenghua Wen, was arrested on December 3 for allegedly shipping weapons to North Korea from the United States. The Justice Department said that Wen, who is a student and overstayed his visa, sent concealed firearms, ammunition, and export-controlled technology in shipments bound from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea.
According to the charges, Wen’s actions violated US sanctions on North Korea. Law enforcement found 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition in his flat, and he faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
**Russia-North Korea Ties Deepen**
The arrest comes as international concerns grow over deepening ties between Russia and North Korea. A Russian military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov visited North Korea on November 29, where they received a warm welcome from the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim declared that North Korea would “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russia’s defense chief. In return, North Korea has been shipping shells, missiles, and soldiers to Russia, which have been used to support Russian forces in Ukraine.
**Ukraine Updates**
The conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate. The Health Ministry reported on December 3 that over 1,670 casualties were suffered by Russian forces just over the past day. In response, Ukraine plans to establish nearly 200 mental health facilities.
In other news, Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi reaffirmed his country‘s commitment to defending its culture and way of life against Russian aggression. Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon also expressed her support for Ukraine during a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
**US-Ukraine Relations**
The United States is set to provide additional aid to Ukraine, totaling up to $825 million. The agreement was signed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting.
Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak will lead a delegation in meetings with U.S. officials, including those from the entourage of Donald Trump.
**Russian Aggression**
The Russian military has been accused of transporting multiple groups of children in 2022 under Putin’s orders. The document was signed by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
In other news, Russia is sending private mercenaries to Syria to reinforce its troops, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (HUR) claimed on December 3.
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