You're listening to the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.

Hello, I'm Oliver Conway.

This edition is published in the early hours of Friday the 5th of January.

The US says North Korea has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles that have been used against Ukraine.

This is a significant and concerning escalation in the DPRK support for Russia.

The most effective response is to continue to provide Ukraine with vital air defense capabilities and other types of military equipment.

The UN Human Rights Chief expresses alarm at calls from some Israeli leaders that Palestinian should leave Gaza altogether, and the Vatican issues a statement to try to reassure Catholic bishops who oppose blessings for same-sex couples.

Also in the podcast, an MP in Italy's governing party is suspended after his gun goes off at a New Year's Eve party and The AI bringing Elvis back to life. In the 22 months since it invaded Ukraine, Russia has used up huge amounts of munitions

and turned to allies like Iran for supplies.

Now the US has accused North Korea of giving Russia ballistic missiles and

launchers. The White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said

newly declassified intelligence showed Russia had recently used the missiles in action.

On this 30th of December, 2023, Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean

ballistic missiles into Ukraine.

This missile appears to have landed in an open field in the Zapparichi region.

And on January 2nd, Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine,

including as part of its overnight aerial attack.

I had more about the details provided by John Kirby from our correspondent, Will Vernon, in Washington.

John Kirby called this a significant and concerning escalation.

He said that Russia had recently received missile launchers and several ballistic missiles

from North Korea and he told reporters at that White House briefing that Moscow's forces launched a number of these

missiles during attacks on Ukraine in recent days.

...