North Korea Looks ‘Ready for War’ in Ukraine

Last week, various news outlets reported that North Korea will be sending soldiers to help Russia in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The North Koreans have committed at least 11,000 troops, although the number may change depending on their need in the war.

The latest developments suggest that Russia is getting desperate. Before the full-scale invasion, many military experts and foreign policy officials believed Russia had the second-strongest military in the world. But over time, the invasion of Ukraine has shown the world that Russia is not as powerful as it was perceived. Over the past two and a half years, the Russians have lost tens of billions of dollars in defense equipment. The Ukrainians have destroyed two-thirds of Russia’s pre-invasion tank force, and the Ukrainians have destroyed half of Russia’s naval fleet on the Black Sea. In addition, the Russians have sustained nearly 700,000 casualties. This information suggests that the Russian invasion is not going to plan.

Realizing its invasion of Ukraine is failing, the Russians have turned to their allies for assistance. In Europe, the Russians have relied heavily on Belarus for assistance. Throughout the full-scale invasion, the Belarusians allowed the Russians to station soldiers and weapons in Belarusian barracks. The Russians have transported equipment from Belarus to Ukraine, and they used Belarus as a launch pad to invade northern Ukraine. Finally, the Russians launched numerous missile strikes from Belarusian territory into Ukraine.

The Russians have also turned to countries in Asia. For example, the Russians have purchased hundreds of drones, artillery shells, and rockets from Iran. After acquiring this equipment, the Russians have then used these materials to launch strikes across Ukraine. This has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers.

Meanwhile, China has provided financial assistance to Russia. While various countries across the Americas, South America, and Europe look to sever their ties with the Russian Federation, the Chinese government has opted to increase business operations with Russia. This economic partnership has allowed Russia to continue financing its war. The Chinese have also reportedly sent defense equipment to Russia.

Finally, North Korea has provided ammunition to the Russian Federation. This ensures that the Russians will not run out of ammunition while they continue to launch their unnecessary war.

Despite this assistance, the Ukrainians continue to fight back against the Russian invasion. To date, the Ukrainians successfully forced the Russians out of central and northern Ukraine, they defended their capital, and they made gains in the Russian-occupied regions in southern and eastern Ukraine. Given these Ukrainian successes, the Russians have developed a new strategy: an open invitation to its allies to help Russia fight in its war.

The North Korean Dimension in the Ukraine War

The recent introduction of North Korean soldiers as co-combatants has now raised the stakes in the war. This would be the first time in the Russo-Ukraine war that another country has entered the battle between Russia and Ukraine. The North Korean soldiers would be used to help bolster Russia’s current movements in eastern Ukraine, where the Russians are hoping to penetrate Ukraine’s defenses. They would be used as coverage for Russian forces, and the North Korean soldiers could even be used to divert Ukrainian resources and soldiers from primary objectives. Finally, the involvement of North Korean forces would relieve pressure on Russian soldiers as it would allow Russian troops to regroup and strategize while the North Koreans attempt to make advances in Ukraine. This makes the situation all the more dangerous for Ukraine.

However, North Korea is not the only country that has looked to join the fight in the Russo-Ukraine war. According to recent reports, South Korea may come to Ukraine’s aid to counter North Korean forces. The South Korean government recently announced that it will consider sending military personnel and intelligence officers to aid Ukraine.

The significance of these developments cannot be understated. To date, numerous countries across the globe have provided Ukraine with defense, medical, humanitarian, and financial aid to fend off against the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Russia has relied on assistance from Belarus, Iran, China, and North Korea. Now, soldiers in uniform from two Asian countries would be entering the battle. These developments could see the Russo-Ukraine war spiral into a deadlier and more brutal conflict, and it may force other countries around the globe to send personnel.

Further escalation is not outside of the question. Several NATO members have stated that they are prepared to send soldiers to Ukraine. According to reports, France, Poland, and the Baltic states have openly stated that they have considered sending troops to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia. These countries have been monitoring Russian brutalities in Ukraine, and these NATO members want to ensure that Ukraine defeats the invaders. If these European countries were to join the battle, this would only lead to further death and destruction in Ukraine. It is also likely that the war would spill into the European continent, make this a deadlier conflict.

In short, the involvement of North Korean forces in Ukraine has now raised the stakes in the Russo-Ukraine war. Russia is getting desperate in its antics, and it is hoping that its ally will be able to help it turn the tide in the war.

In response, the international community must continue to provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to help it win the war. Otherwise, if Russia and North Korea are not defeated, then the war could lead to further death and destruction on the European continent. The globe cannot afford a deadly and global war.

About the Author:

Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. He can be found on X @MTemnycky.