Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, approximately 150,000 Russian soldiers have been reported killed, alongside significant losses in weapons and military equipment. (Video screenshot)
[Peopel News] Since the Russia-Ukraine war began, Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened their military cooperation. On June 19 this year, Vladimir Putin, wanted internationally, rushed to Pyongyang, where Russia and North Korea signed a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.” According to the agreement, in the event of an attack on either by a third party, Russia and North Korea commit to providing mutual support.
Recently, reports have emerged that the U.S., UK, South Korea, the EU, NATO, and Ukraine, among others, believe North Korea has already deployed a large number of troops to support Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict. U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin stated last week in Rome: “There is evidence of North Korean forces in Russia.” Pentagon Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh also stated that approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to be in Russia, with some “already close to Ukraine… More North Korean troops are likely to support Russia in the coming weeks.”
Experts Label the Russia-Ukraine War as a ‘Quasi-World War III’
Due to the international involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war—including CCP soldiers, volunteers from the U.S. and Western countries, and Western weaponry—current affairs analyst Wang Juntao suggests that the conflict has become a proxy war, akin to a quasi-world war.
South Korea has indicated it will consider providing Ukraine with defensive weapons in stages and, should North Korea’s involvement escalate, offensive weapons may also be considered. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the international community to promptly “punish” Russia and North Korea, citing intelligence reports predicting that North Korean troops in Russia could soon reach 12,000.
President Biden called these developments “extremely dangerous.” U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller indicated that the U.S. has also raised concerns with Beijing, urging that China (the CCP) “should be worried about the destabilizing actions of Russia and North Korea.” The implication, widely interpreted, is that the U.S. and its allies view the deepening ties among China, Russia, and North Korea as an increasing threat.
Pyongyang's Role Brings Both Joy and Troubles to Beijing
For the CCP, North Korea’s actions have brought both opportunities and embarrassments. On one hand, North Korea’s alignment with Russia helps the CCP leverage Western powers, providing bargaining chips for potential concessions. On the other hand, Pyongyang’s actions contradict the CCP's carefully crafted “peace emissary” image in the West, exposing North Korea’s disobedience.
Moreover, North Korea’s embrace of Russia places it outside the CCP's control, making Kim Jong Un harder to manage. Additionally, Russia’s cozying up to North Korea could further destabilize East Asia. Should South Korea send troops to Ukraine, a regional conflict could escalate into Europe, pushing the U.S., Japan, and South Korea into a tighter security alliance. As the saying goes, “When the city wall is ablaze, the fish in the moat cannot remain unscathed.”
So, should China support North Korea’s deployment or not? If not, they risk losing favor with Russia, placing China in a tough spot. Kim Jong Un’s troublesome involvement seems like a “chicken bone stuck in the throat,” only adding to Beijing’s problems.
Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani expressed “deep concern” on October 25, stating that North Korea’s involvement in Russia “affects the security around Japan.”
The CCP, meanwhile, is pretending not to notice, attempting to play its standard diplomatic cards by calling on all parties to ease tensions and pursue a political solution.
So far, the CCP’s clear stance is that none of the parties should expand the conflict, urging restraint. The CCP has even suggested Ukraine should let go of its lost territory rather than attempting to reclaim it.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), since early October, Russian forces have advanced 478 square kilometers in Ukraine. As of October 27, Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories exceeded August and September’s gains of 477 and 459 square kilometers, respectively.
On October 29, during a regular CCP Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conference, spokesperson Lin Jian responded to a question from Agence France-Presse on the security threat posed by North Korea-Russia military cooperation with the same response as five days prior, reiterating calls for “political resolution.” When asked by a Nikkei reporter about North Korean troops supporting Russia and the CCP’s role in easing tensions, Lin responded with the usual platitudes about pursuing a peaceful resolution in the best interest of all parties involved, feigning ignorance about the military support.
At this stage of the war, the CCP's call for Russia and Ukraine to refrain from escalating the conflict has met with strong opposition from Ukraine. It appears that the situation will only intensify, with little likelihood of de-escalation.
World War Seems Imminent
The new NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, issued a warning: “North Korean forces are deployed in the Kursk region, marking a significant escalation,” adding that “the dangers of Russia’s war have expanded, posing a threat to Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also stressed that the aggression marks “a turning point in the conflict,” posing a “threat to world peace.”
Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, assured, “Today, Russia has drawn North Korea into the conflict; next, it could expand further, potentially enabling other authoritarian regimes to join in and confront NATO.”
Some analysts suggest that NATO might lift restrictions preventing Ukraine from using Western-supplied weaponry for deep strikes into Russian territory.
Recent reports have emerged showing North Korean soldiers stationed at a Russian camp. On October 29, Ukrainian forces launched an attack on a military base in Kursk with North Korean troops reportedly stationed there, reportedly resulting in the deaths of approximately 200 North Korean soldiers.
That morning, President Zelensky held a phone conversation with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to discuss the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. They agreed to send a high-level delegation of South Korean military intelligence experts to Ukraine this week to share confidential intelligence on North Korean troop movements and explore specific cooperation plans.
On the same day, Putin announced immediate nuclear drills, launching both a land-based ballistic missile and a submarine-launched ballistic missile (similar to the U.S. Trident-II) from the Barents Sea in the Arctic Ocean, intensifying fears of an impending world war.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported to a parliamentary committee on October 23 that around 3,000 North Korean troops had already been sent, with an additional 10,000 possibly deploying by December. The NIS previously reported on October 13 that approximately 1,500 North Korean special forces had arrived in Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East, with additional troops following. The NIS also reported that, since August 2023, North Korea has shipped over 13,000 containers filled with artillery, missiles, and other conventional weaponry to Russia to replenish its depleted arsenal.
All of this only serves to push the world closer to the brink of a true world war.
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