The Strengthening Tie Between Russia And North Korea Is A Threat To European Security And The US
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced on Thursday that North Korean troops have been stationed at Russian military bases near Ukraine. Rutte stated that this development marks “a significant escalation of Pyongyang’s continued involvement in Russia’s unlawful war against Ukraine.” He emphasized that this deployment violates UN Security Council resolutions and dangerously expands the scope of the conflict. The presence of North Korean forces in the Kursk region poses a serious threat to the safety of Ukrainian citizens.
Russian-North Korean military ties have become even closer since the two countries signed a mutual defense pact in June. In addition to training the North Korean soldiers in artillery operations and unmanned aerial vehicle missions, Russia has provided them with uniforms and equipment that clearly mark them as Russian forces. It is, therefore, quite possible that Russia plans to use these troops in frontline combat operations against Ukraine.
Rutte said the development “is a dangerous expansion of the conflict, escalating the war and demonstrating that our security is not regional; it is global.” He added: “We call on allies to step up their support to Ukraine, including by strengthening consultations, intelligence-sharing, and practical cooperation, such as in defense production.” This is a time for unity and collective action, and NATO’s allies are called upon to stand together in the face of this threat.
The news came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urgently warned that 10,000 North Korean troops could be deployed to fight in the battleground near Kursk within days. The warning comes after intelligence reports showed that North Korean forces were preparing to join Russian forces in the area, where Ukraine occupied thousands of square miles of territory after staging an incursion into Russia in August.
Analysts say the deployment shows that Putin is not only intent on winning the war against Ukraine but is also willing to leverage North Korea’s help in doing so. It is a cost-effective way for Moscow to boost its forces without carrying out a costly and time-consuming domestic mobilization. This allows Russia to add new troops to its fighting force without dealing with the resulting fallout, says Northeastern University political science professor Mai’a Cross.
Rutte’s confirmation of the troop deployment also puts more pressure on European leaders to do what they can to counter Russia’s aggressive moves. That might include lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles, which would enable it to strike Russian targets within its borders. The consequences of inaction could be dire, and European leaders are urged to act swiftly and decisively.
The announcement also suggests that Hungary no longer wants to obstruct Rutte’s bid for the position of NATO secretary general, Reuters reported on Friday. Hungary had demanded that the outgoing Dutch prime minister apologize for comments about Hungarian democracy. Still, it appears to have changed its position following talks between Rutte and Orban last week. Budapest may now be prepared to let Rutte take the post, a move the United States would welcome. NATO’s current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, is stepping down at the end of his term next February.
