Tensions rise a notch. Washington warns that North Korean soldiers, trained in Russia, could soon be deployed to the Ukrainian front. This strengthening of alliances between Pyongyang and Moscow worries Western powers, reinforcing uncertainty around the war in Ukraine.
War in Ukraine: a strategic rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang
North Korea and Russia have intensified military cooperation. Pyongyang reportedly sent more than 10,000 troops to support Moscow in Ukraine, according to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on November 23, 2024. These troops are currently stationed near Kursk, a region bordering Ukraine.
According to American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, these soldiers, integrated into Russian formations, could soon be engaged in combat. This connection is not accidental: Moscow would provide Pyongyang with military equipment, including anti-aircraft missiles, in exchange for this human support. North Korea sees this as an opportunity to acquire advanced technologies and valuable field experience.
The partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang goes beyond a simple exchange. The two countries are linked by a mutual defense treaty, signed in June 2024 and strengthened since. This stipulates immediate military assistance in the event of external aggression, which allows North Korea to integrate the Russian war economy.
This partnership would offer North Korea privileged access to strategic resources like Russian oil and gas. In return, Moscow benefits from military manpower to make up for its own losses on the Ukrainian front. For Seoul, this alliance constitutes further proof of Pyongyang's active role in the conflict.
According to information from CNNNorth Korean soldiers have already been seen near Mariupol and Kharkiv.
The stakes for Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin
For Kim Jong Un, this support is not just an act of solidarity. North Korea wants to strengthen its military arsenal and obtain security guarantees from Moscow. Pyongyang also hopes to circumvent its international isolation by using the war in Ukraine as leverage to influence its geopolitical relations.
For Vladimir Putin, this alliance allows him to diversify his support in the face of increasingly strong pressure from the West. As the Kremlin accuses Ukraine and its allies of widening the conflict, the participation of North Korean soldiers could intensify tensions on the groundwhile sending a strong signal to the West.
The implications of this collaboration go beyond the Ukrainian conflict. South Korea, in a latent state of war with its northern neighbor since 1953, is following this situation with apprehension. South Korean Security Minister Shin Won-sik denounced the arms delivery to Pyongyang, calling the act a direct threat to regional stability.
For the West, this rapprochement symbolizes a worrying escalation, transforming the war in Ukraine into a confrontation of global scope. According to the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, this alliance “changes the game” and calls for a firmer response from Ukraine's allied countries.
North Korea said in October 2024 that any deployment of troops to Russia would be “an act consistent with the rules of international law”, but did not confirm sending troops.
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