Summary
- NATO warns that North Korean troops may be heading to the front line.
- South Korea and Ukraine vow to enhance cooperation.
- North Korea’s foreign minister arrives in Russia for talks.
- The Kremlin does not deny reports of North Korean troops in Russia.
MOSCOW/SEOUL, Oct 29 (Reuters) – North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Russia on Tuesday for talks as the Russia-Ukraine war appeared to take a dangerous new turn. NATO and South Korea expressed alarm over the possibility that North Korean troops could soon join Moscow’s side in the conflict.
On Monday, NATO reported that thousands of North Korean troops were moving toward the front line. This development prompted Kyiv to call for increased weapons supplies and an international plan to counter the North Korean presence.
U.S. officials stated that any North Korean troops participating in the war would be “fair game” for Ukrainian attacks. They emphasized that Washington would not impose additional restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S. weapons if North Koreans entered the fight.
South Korea, which remains technically at war with the nuclear-armed North from the 1950-1953 Korean War, condemned the troop deployments. Officials in Seoul expressed concerns about the potential military aid Russia might provide to Pyongyang in exchange.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Russia’s far east on Tuesday on her way to Moscow, according to Russian state media. Reports indicated that it was unclear who Choe, making her second visit in six weeks, would meet during her trip.
The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans to meet with Choe. This absence of a high-profile meeting raised further questions about the nature of their discussions.
After talks with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy remarked that North Korea’s actions signaled a new phase in the war. He noted that “this war is becoming internationalized, extending beyond two countries.”
Zelenskiy and Yoon agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing and enhance contacts at all levels. They aimed to develop a strategy and countermeasures to address this escalation.
Yoon warned Zelenskiy that if North Korea received military aid from Russia and gained experience from its involvement in the conflict, it would pose a “great threat” to South Korea’s security, as stated by his office.
In response to the situation, South Korea indicated it might start supplying weapons to Ukraine if North Korean troops joined Russia’s war efforts. Meanwhile, Putin has not denied the presence of North Korean troops within Russia.
SYMBOLIC?
The role of North Korean troops remains unclear.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that “the numbers make this more than a symbolic effort, but the troops will likely serve in support roles and comprise less than 1 percent of Russia’s forces.”
CSIS added that “Russia is desperate for additional manpower, and this effort is part of Russia’s strategy to fill ranks without initiating a second mobilization,” while also suggesting that the presence of these troops could increase.
These troops may also play a political role for both Russia and North Korea, strengthening their positions in relations with China, which has an uneasy partnership with both nations. They could send a strong message to Washington and its allies, according to Western diplomats and analysts.
Gilbert Rozman of The Asan Forum wrote for the U.S.-based 38 North program that “the closer Moscow’s ties to Pyongyang, the more leverage it expects over U.S. allies and China.”
Moscow seeks a partner that is hostile to the status quo, cautious of China but not outright antagonistic, and willing to assist with arms or labor needs, he explained.
A few thousand North Korean troops will not significantly alter the course of the war. One diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested this could be a Russian tactic to demonstrate to the United States just how disruptive Moscow can be if it chooses.
“Integrating North Korean troops into a complex war machine is challenging. However, leveraging their presence to intimidate the United States and its allies in Asia is quite straightforward,” the diplomat said.
TROOPS TRAINING
The Ukraine conflict erupted when Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. It has since transformed into a war of attrition primarily fought along the front lines in eastern Ukraine, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
The Pentagon estimated that 10,000 North Korean troops have deployed to eastern Russia for training, an increase from an earlier estimate of 3,000 troops reported last Wednesday.
South Korean lawmakers, briefed by the country’s spy agency, stated on Tuesday that the Russian military is teaching military terminology to the North Korean soldiers.
Moscow is also continuing to provide technical support for North Korea’s efforts to deploy a fleet of spy satellites, the lawmakers reported.
For months, North Korea has supplied Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and other weapons, according to intelligence officials from the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine.
