How will the United States and its allies respond to North Korea’s involvement in the war in Ukraine?
How will the United States and its allies respond to North Korea’s involvement in the war in Ukraine? The United States and its allies are deeply concerned about North Korea’s growing involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine, with recent intelligence indicating that North Korea may have sent up to 10,000 troops to support Russian forces in areas near Ukraine. This development has been met with condemnation, as it signals increased military support from Pyongyang, which has already been supplying artillery shells and other military supplies to Russia.
The U.S., alongside Japan, South Korea, and other partners, is actively considering a range of responses, including bolstering sanctions enforcement against North Korea to cut off its arms trade with Russia. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell emphasized the importance of monitoring North Korea’s activities closely, as Pyongyang’s involvement further destabilizes the region and poses new security challenges for NATO and Ukraine’s Western allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a stronger reaction from the West, describing the deployment of North Korean soldiers as a dangerous escalation. He has urged the U.S. and NATO to reconsider providing Ukraine with long-range weapons to deter further aggression from Russia and its allies.