Global leaders respond to North Korean military escalation
In a statement published on social media, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, characterised the transfer of North Korean troops to Russia as "a serious escalation of the war and a threat to global peace."
The security of Europe and East-Asia are interlinked.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 28, 2024
North Korean soldiers are deployed to support Russia’s war of aggression.
It's a grave escalation in this war and a threat to global peace.
We will respond together with our like-minded partners, I told @President_KR ⭣
She emphasised that the security of Europe and East Asia is interconnected, and the European Union will respond to the situation in collaboration with international partners.
According to DW, recent reports have surfaced regarding the possibility of North Korean soldiers being involved in the conflict in Ukraine after they complete a training period in Russia. Intelligence services from South Korea have reported that the troops could be equipped with false documents to be presented as residents of the eastern regions of Russia. In a recent statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin indirectly commented on this information, stating that "if there are images, then they reflect something."
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that North Korean soldiers could be involved in the conflict as early as October 27-28. Simultaneously, the Pentagon estimates that approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent for training in eastern Russia, with the likelihood of supporting Russian forces near the border with Ukraine in the coming weeks, according to Sabrina Singh, deputy spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Reactions from global leaders emerged swiftly, with U.S. President Joe Biden describing the transfer of North Korean troops as "very dangerous." In turn, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the deployment of these troops, including detachments in the Kursk region, and emphasised that the alliance is closely monitoring the situation while actively consulting with Ukraine and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has supplied Russia with military equipment valued between $1.7 billion and $5.5 billion, according to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. If North Korean troops are indeed involved in the conflict, Pyongyang's profits from this military collaboration could increase significantly.
The tensions created by this collaboration are heightening pressure on global leaders. This week, American officials, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are set to discuss the situation with their counterparts from South Korea at a meeting in Washington.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
