In their joint statement, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul condemned North Korea’s ongoing arms transfers and the deployment of its troops to Russia in support of the invasion of Ukraine.
The full statement reads as follows:
“We condemn in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s continued unlawful arms transfers and the reported deployment of its troops to the Russian Federation to support Russia’s unlawful war of aggression in Ukraine. Such cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is not only in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions, but also prolongs the suffering of the Ukrainian people and threatens global security, including those in the ROK and the UK, and demonstrates the desperation of the DPRK and Russia. We are committed to providing the support Ukraine requires to secure a just and lasting peace.”
The statement continued, highlighting concerns about Russia’s potential provision of technology and materials to North Korea:
“We are closely monitoring what Russia provides to the DPRK in return for its provision of arms and military personnel, including Russia’s possible provision of materials and technology to the DPRK in support of Pyongyang’s military objectives. We are also deeply concerned about the possibility for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missile-related technology to the DPRK, which would jeopardise the international non-proliferation efforts and threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the globe.”
The ministers concluded by reaffirming their commitment to monitoring and countering these developments, stating:
“We take note that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic are more closely intertwined than ever, and commit ourselves to closely monitoring the situation and actively pursuing necessary measures together with the international community to deter further unlawful, reckless and destabilising behaviour.”
If DPRK troops engage in direct combat with Ukraine troops, that would seem to green-light all western nations to provide military units to fight in Ukraine. Surely that’s not in Putins best interests. Is he deliberately trying to trigger WW3? The guy is nuts.
Unless he can wangle some sort of presentable result he is toast so I guess increasingly desperate acts are deeply concerning. More worryingly North Korean troops would effectively be China getting directly involved through its acolyte as it would not dare do it without their green light. As you say the West might have big decisions to make as Asian forces invading Europe is effectively approaching a reverse Vietnam scenario with frighten future implications if we do nothing. Quarter million NK troops invading the Baltics anyone by decade’s end? Let’s hope the risk of them deserting will limit that one but they are so mind numbed from babies who knows.
Think it’s just a ploy ,Putin hoping the West don’t give permission to Ukraine to use our long range weapons .🤔
NATO could not deploy combat units into Ukraine, so are you talking about other western nations going into Ukraine?
Unfortunately this is a pretty bad situation developing, We are seeing a definite axis of opposition against the west forming, NATO and the western allies could with a hard struggle and with a will to undertake a long damaging war to strategic exhaustion fight and win against china ( but even that would be an extreme struggle that would stretch the political will of the west)..or it could also crush Russia…but it’s starting to look like the west may just be facing a world in with there is a realistic possibility of contiguous wars between..European NATO and russia, the west and its allies in the Middle East against Iran supported by china and russia, Syria and Irans proxies, North Korea crossing the demarcation line and china invading Taiwan..then with possible bush wars in Africa and South America around resources…it’s a worse case scenario but effectively that’s how WW2 developed..I’m not sure the west has the resources or will to fight all its enemies in one major conflagration.
Good question , we may have no choice.
NATO as a whole will be guided by any breach of Article 5. As for anything else or anyone else – there is no such guidance. US could deploy independently and often has – big question is whether anyone else would join them in a non-NATO action.
As if Pooters or Kim are bothered? Want a response? Get the useless UN to designate a no fly zone over Ukraine. Enforce it. They only respond to counter measures based on intent. Then with Biden gone? Depends who replaces him l guess. Maybe we will learn one day this is were proxy wars lead.
If Dumpster Donald win the American election, will the allied partners still dance to the US tune regarding assistance to Ukraine. Knowing full well Trump is a shill for Putin?
It is the Americans who are blocking the use of Storm Shadow over Russian soil in their utter failed attempt to contain the war.
I hope Biden finally sees he was being played by Putin and his nuclear “ willy” waving.
Anyone know the details of support by DPRK troops?
From yesterday’s ‘understanding war’ website: “Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Head Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov told The War Zone on October 22 that the first North Korean military personnel are expected to arrive in Kursk Oblast on October 23 but that it is unclear how large the force grouping will be or how they will be equipped. Newsweek reported that a South Korean government official stated that North Korea sent fighter pilots to Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai in September 2024, possibly to train on Russian combat aircraft that Russia has allegedly supplied to North Korea, or to supplement Russia’s pilot shortages”.
Apart from some Mig 29 and SU-35, the North Korea air force planes are very old. Unless Russia has supplied new aircraft (which would majorly upset South Korea) I cant see them being much use. I would have thought boots on the ground would be a better option
I’ve just read on Sky News that 3,000 North Koreans are in Ukraine. Some say 1,500 SF are en route.
The sources go back to South Korean Intelligence sources, who may be biased!
Zelensky said that 10,000 North Koreans might arrive in his country to aid Russian forces by Xmas.