North Korean troops in Ukraine: Global tensions escalate
North Korean soldiers are reportedly present in Ukraine, assisting their Russian allies. As CNN reports, U.S. officials have been negotiating with China to intervene and persuade North Korea to withdraw from these actions.
U.S. and UK intelligence have confirmed the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine. Officials from both countries estimate the number to be around 10,000. However, they noted that these military personnel would first undergo training in eastern Russia before heading to the Kursk region. The language barrier is said to pose an obstacle to rapid action.
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South Korean officials estimate the number of North Korean soldiers in Russia to be around 13,000. According to CNN, this information has already been forwarded to NATO. Additionally, South Korean authorities are analyzing the provision of military aid, which would contradict their policy of not arming countries engaged in active conflict. A decision will be based on the level of North Korea’s military involvement.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that the United States has urged China, which maintains good relations with Pyongyang, to intervene and pressure North Korea to withdraw from Ukraine.
We have communicated with the PRC about this matter to make clear that we are concerned about it, and that they ought to be concerned about this destabilizing action by two of its neighbors, Russia and North Korea," quotes the portal Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.
Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, has reportedly instructed the U.S. government to urge other countries to pressure China regarding the deployment of Korean troops to Ukraine.
According to CNN sources, Western officials are not optimistic about Chinese intervention. "China has continued to be a 'critical enabler' of Russia’s war effort, according to the NATO official, and is still fueling Russia’s defense industry with substantial amounts of dual-use goods," we read in the publication.
