Leader Kim Jong-un of North Korea and Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, express their intentions to strengthen their bilateral relationship, in anticipation of the upcoming US-Russia summit.
North Korea has significantly escalated its military support for Russia in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, sending over 10,000 troops and reportedly planning to deploy an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to the front lines. This deployment, which began in fall 2024, comes as Russia's invasion struggles to gain permanent progress, with around 4,000 North Korean troops reportedly killed or injured so far.
Kim Jong Un has publicly praised these troops as “heroic,” emphasizing their contribution to operations such as the “liberation” of Russia’s Kursk Region, signaling official approval and a desire to showcase North Korea’s military as powerful on the global stage.
The implications of this military support are multifaceted:
Russia-North Korea Relations
The partnership between Russia and North Korea is strengthened through mutual strategic interests. Russia reportedly pays North Korea for troop deployments and provides technology that Pyongyang cannot produce domestically, potentially enhancing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The two leaders have reaffirmed cooperation, with a strategic partnership treaty including a mutual defense pact signed in June 2024.
Impact on the U.S. and South Korea
North Korea’s direct military involvement alongside Russia complicates the geopolitical landscape. The U.S. views Pyongyang’s participation and the technology transfer with concern, as it could advance North Korea’s weapons capabilities, exacerbating regional security threats. South Korean intelligence confirms ongoing and additional troop deployments, heightening tensions. This could prompt increased U.S.-South Korea military coordination and pressure on Pyongyang.
Broader Strategic Consequences
North Korea’s involvement is a rare and bold intervention that could influence the conflict's dynamics in Ukraine by providing Russia with critical manpower. Simultaneously, it risks further isolating North Korea internationally while binding it closer to Russia, which may challenge U.S. and allied policies in East Asia and Europe alike.
In a phone call on Tuesday, Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed their intention to strengthen cooperation in the future. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, suggested that the public disclosure of their conversation was intended to showcase their closeness to domestic and international audiences.
Moreover, Yang stated that if Russia-Ukraine peace talks gather momentum, they could have a positive spillover effect on US-North Korea and inter-Korean dialogue. However, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's powerful sister, warned against pursuing denuclearisation, stating any push would be "thoroughly rejected."
The call occurred three days before Putin's summit with U.S. President Joe Biden in Alaska, where Trump is expected to press Russia to end the Ukraine war. Relations between the two Koreas had been at one of their lowest points in years under former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, with Seoul taking a hard line towards Pyongyang. However, newly elected President Lee Jae Myung has taken a different approach, saying he would seek talks with the North without preconditions.
This development underscores the complex and evolving geopolitical landscape, with North Korea's military support for Russia posing increased security challenges for the U.S. and South Korea and raising specific concerns about future regional military balances.
[1] BBC News. (2024). North Korea sends troops to Russia to aid in Ukraine war, reports say. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65377463
[2] Reuters. (2024). North Korea sends troops to Russia to aid in Ukraine war, reports say. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/north-korea-sends-troops-russia-aid-ukraine-war-reports-say-2024-09-01/
[3] NPR. (2024). North Korea Sends Troops To Russia To Aid In Ukraine War, Reports Say. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/2024/09/01/1261384627/north-korea-sends-troops-to-russia-to-aid-in-ukraine-war-reports-say
[4] The Guardian. (2024). North Korea sends troops to Russia to aid in Ukraine war, reports say. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/01/north-korea-sends-troops-to-russia-to-aid-in-ukraine-war-reports-say
[5] CNN. (2024). North Korea sends troops to Russia to aid in Ukraine war, reports say. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/01/world/north-korea-russia-ukraine-war-troops/index.html
- The escalation of North Korea's military support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, as reported by various news outlets, has raised concerns about the potential impact on global politics, particularly in terms of the region's strategic balance and the prospect of further war-and-conflicts.
- With North Korea's direct military involvement alongside Russia, the geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly complex, potentially influencing political discussions and general-news discourse regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the broader implications for international relations.
