North Korean troops in Ukraine.Photo: mind.ua
US Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood issued a stern warning to North Korea, noting that North Korean troops supporting Russia in the conflict with Ukraine “will definitely come back in body bags”. This happened against the backdrop of an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, when the US and South Korean defence ministers called on Pyongyang to immediately withdraw its troops from Russia. This was reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to The Guardian.
The deployment of North Korean troops in Russia: International Reaction
Statements from Washington indicate that about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are likely to be ready for deployment in Russia, which threatens to seriously escalate the conflict. At the same time, the strengthening of the military-political alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang is a matter of deep concern on the world stage.
“I call on North Korea to withdraw its troops,” said US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, adding that Pyongyang’s forces would become “legitimate military targets” if they fought against Ukrainians. South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun stressed that such a deployment could provoke new security threats on the Korean peninsula and escalate tensions between South Korea and the North.
Deepening the alliance between Russia and North Korea
Russia and North Korea continue to strengthen their military ties: Pyongyang, according to diplomatic sources, is seeking technological assistance from Moscow to develop tactical nuclear weapons, intercontinental missiles and satellite programmes. However, there is currently no confirmation from Russia that North Korean troops are deployed near the Ukrainian border.
Against this backdrop, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Song-hui held strategic talks in Moscow, and Beijing officials continue to engage in dialogue with Russian Foreign Ministry representatives on the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
International concerns and possible consequences for Pyongyang
The UN rapporteurs note that, although there is no independent confirmation of the presence of troops, any such escalation would be met with a strong response. The Japanese government has also expressed concern, noting North Korea’s intercontinental missile test as evidence of the highest tension in the region.
Lloyd Austin (left) and South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Austin said that North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine “will definitely come back in body bags”. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
If North Korea actively participates in the war on Russia’s side, the international community would view it as a serious threat to global security.
