The illegitimate president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, went to great lengths to get weapons from North Korea. However, the US and partners have discussed options for responding to Russia's involvement of North Koreans.
Points of attention
- US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin believes that North Korea's involvement will not ensure Putin's victory in Ukraine.
- Russia's supply of clothing and weapons to North Korean soldiers for potential military operations near the Ukraine border raises significant concerns.
- The presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine, as reported by Western intelligence, underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region.
- The US and its partners are discussing responses to Russia's actions involving North Korea, emphasizing the importance of addressing the security implications for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
- The situation highlights the need for the Kremlin to reconsider its course of action and for heightened vigilance regarding the potential involvement of North Korean soldiers in combat in Ukraine.
Putin will not defeat Ukraine even with the help of North Korea
This was stated by US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin at a media briefing.
According to Austin, the US is aware that North Korea has sent about 10,000 soldiers for training in eastern Russia. Some of these troops have already moved closer to Ukraine. Russia also supplies the North Koreans with clothing and weapons for its army.
I am increasingly concerned that the Kremlin plans to use these North Korean soldiers to support Russia's military operations in the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine. Russia has signed resolutions of the UN Security Council in which it has pledged not to provide military aid to North Korea. Of course, we know that Putin went to great lengths to get weapons from North Korea and Iran.
Lloyd Austin
US Defense Minister
In his opinion, the involvement of North Korea emphasizes that Putin has big problems at the moment.
We take this very seriously. We call on the Kremlin to change course. We fully understand the implications for the security of both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Putin will not win in Ukraine, even with more help from North Korea. But these deeply disturbing events only emphasize the importance of ours.
Austin said that Russia and the DPRK are conducting certain exercises, and probably about 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to eastern Ukraine. There they collect equipment and conduct certain training. It is also known that some of these troops began to advance to the border of Ukraine in the Kursk region.
Whether they will be involved in hostilities is yet to be seen, but if they are, it is a matter of great concern. And so we remain concerned that they are going to use these troops in combat.
The North Korean military is already in Ukraine
According to Western intelligence, a "small number" of North Korean invaders who previously arrived in Russia for training are already in Ukraine.
It seems that many of them (military personnel of North Korea who arrived in Russia. — ed.) are already on the territory of Ukraine.
One of the journalists' insiders claims that the American authorities still have no confirmation of the direct presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine.
Despite this, anonymous sources claim that most of the North Korean troops sent to the aggressor country are special forces, and it is currently difficult to assess their effectiveness on the battlefield.
