New York: The United States has expressed deep concern over reports that North Korea may be sending troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. US officials described the development as “dangerous and highly concerning,” warning of its potential geopolitical repercussions. Allies such as South Korea and the United Kingdom have echoed similar sentiments, signaling the gravity of the situation if these reports are confirmed.
During a UN Security Council meeting, Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, underscored the severity of the situation. “We are consulting with our allies and partners on the implications of such a dramatic move,” Wood stated, highlighting the increasingly close ties between North Korea and Russia. His comments followed allegations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who claimed that Pyongyang is preparing to dispatch 10,000 soldiers to bolster Russia’s forces.
Ukraine’s UN Ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, added further details, noting that North Korean troops are expected to be combat-ready by November 1. South Korea’s intelligence agency had earlier reported that 1,500 North Korean special forces had been sent to Russia’s Far East for training, with plans to deploy them in the ongoing conflict.
Wood emphasized the significant implications of such actions, noting that it would mark a substantial escalation in the Russia-North Korea relationship. “This marks an obvious deepening of the DPRK-Russia military relationship,” he said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The Kremlin has yet to directly address these allegations. However, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow’s cooperation with Pyongyang is not aimed at any third countries. Meanwhile, Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, dismissed the reports, accusing Western nations of “scare-mongering” and exaggerating threats from North Korea, China, and Iran.
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British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward expressed a different view, stating it was “highly likely” that North Korea is sending troops to aid Russia. She suggested that the move reflects Russian President Vladimir Putin’s struggle to recruit sufficient domestic forces. “It seems that the harder Putin finds it to recruit Russians to be cannon fodder, the more willing he is to rely on DPRK in his illegal war,” Woodward remarked.
South Korean UN Ambassador Joonkook Hwang warned that North Korea may demand significant compensation from Moscow, which could include military or financial support. He also raised concerns that this cooperation could extend to nuclear weapons-related technology.
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North Korea has been subject to UN sanctions since 2006 due to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, with Russia previously backing these international measures. The potential deepening of military ties between North Korea and Russia has sparked widespread concern among Western nations, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict in Ukraine.
