In a significant development that could escalate the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Pentagon has reported that North Korea is sending around 10,000 troops to assist Russian operations. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed that some North Korean forces are already positioned near the Ukrainian border, with more deployments expected in the coming weeks.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed these claims, stating that certain North Korean units are already in Russia’s Kursk region, where fighting has intensified. “This deployment marks a significant escalation and a dangerous expansion of Russia’s war,” Rutte said in Brussels. He added that this situation will further strain Ukraine’s military, which is already under pressure.
Western leaders are concerned that North Korea’s involvement could challenge Ukraine’s defenses and heighten geopolitical tensions across the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region. This could have potential implications for countries like Japan and Australia.
To recalibrate global alliances, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted BRICS leaders, aiming to establish a counterbalance to Western influence. Moscow has received military support from Iran, including drones, while North Korea has been supplying Russia with large quantities of ammunition.
“If DPRK forces engage on the front lines, they would be co-belligerents in this war,” Singh said, referencing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). She noted that American-provided weapons would not be restricted against them.
In Moscow, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov downplayed Rutte’s comments. He pointed to a security agreement signed between North Korea and Russia earlier this year but did not confirm the troop deployment. Lavrov also suggested that Western military advisors have been covertly aiding Ukraine in its defense operations.
The presence of North Korean troops adds another layer to the conflict, especially as Ukrainian forces face severe pressure in eastern Donetsk. With the upcoming US presidential election, analysts believe a shift in US support could impact Ukraine’s situation in the war.
Rutte’s comments followed a NATO briefing involving a high-level South Korean delegation, which included intelligence and military officials. However, European officials indicated that no direct evidence was presented regarding North Korean troop movements in the Kursk region during the briefing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that intelligence suggested North Korean troops would arrive in Ukraine “within days.” He previously mentioned that about 10,000 North Korean soldiers were preparing to join Russian forces.
As NATO monitors the situation, possible responses remain uncertain. Suggestions have emerged to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weapons for long-range strikes, which could be a potential option.
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