BUSAN: On Wednesday, October 23, the United States affirmed what South Korea and Ukraine have been frantically pointing out for days: North Korea has dispatched troops to Russia.
The war would escalate if a Russian ally directly supported its unlawful invasion of Ukraine militarily.
The majority of foreign volunteers on the Russian side in the past have been independent citizens of developing nations, typically motivated by personal financial gain. In contrast, Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has ordered the country to participate.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian intelligence service reported that North Korean personnel had been stationed in the Kursk area of Russia, possibly in retaliation for Ukraine’s invasion in August. In that case, they would be engaged in combat on Russian soil rather than Ukrainian. This at least gives Russian President Vladimir Putin the appearance of alliance and defence.
Seoul responded circumspectly as Putin and Kim met earlier in June to elevate its bilateral ties to a strategic partnership – which, among other things, obliges “military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay” if either party is in a state of war. On Thursday, Russian lawmakers voted unanimously to ratify the treaty.
