By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on international allies to act, rather than just observe, the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. He emphasised North Korea’s advancements in weapon production and modern warfare, and said that Ukrainian civilians would have to defend themselves against the soldiers. Despite having located where the North Korean soldiers are in Russia, Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine lacks the resources to strike them. He called for global action to avoid a potential expansion of Russia’s war against Ukraine. This call to action came after an interview where Zelenskiy criticised the limited response from his allies to Russia’s North Korean troop deployment.
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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy urging allies to stop watching and start acting on North Korea resonates deeply with me. It highlights a stark reality that we cannot ignore. Over 8,000 North Korean troops positioned at Europe’s edge should send shockwaves through the global community, yet the world seems to stall in apathy as another malign actor escalates tensions. Watching how the inaction of nations emboldens aggressors feels both frustrating and alarming. This is a wake-up call that demands immediate action—not just words.
The notion that another nation can invade Ukraine without any significant pushback from the international community exposes a cowardice that should shake us awake. The history of the world is a testament to what happens when we let aggressors advance unchecked. With echoes of Hitler’s rise still reverberating through the annals of history, it’s shocking to see how little we’ve seemingly learned. Zelenskiy’s call for NATO to cease its hesitations strikes me as not just timely but necessary. The urgent supply of long-range missile capabilities and heavier military support cannot be delayed any longer. When faced with an enemy’s aggression, hesitation feels like complicity.
It’s troubling to see how the conscription age in Ukraine contrasts with countries such as South Korea and Israel. This difference in urgency reflects a broader issue at hand. While Ukraine faces the threat of multiple aggressors, the responses from its allies seem tepid at best. The warriors on the ground are asking for action, and yet, the world remains absorbed in discussions and sanctions that ultimately do little to deter those who choose war as their path. I find myself asking why we remain tethered to models of conflict resolution that have proven ineffective. Sanctions do not stop war; they often merely reformulate the machinery of chaos.
The international response is bewildering when faced with the urgency of the situation. It feels like the global order has become paralyzed, caught in a web of domestic politics, while the safety of nations hangs in the balance. How can we sit idly by while two countries threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty? It’s infuriating, particularly as we know that great peril often calls for bold measures. I can’t help but feel there is a gap between what needs to be done and what we actually see happening. The thought of forming a massive private army to counter these threats isn’t just a wild idea; it speaks to the desperation we should all feel.
Personal frustrations boil over when I consider the rhetoric surrounding military engagement. Allies appear reluctant to engage just because it might upset the geopolitical status quo. Holding off until the United States elections have passed feels like a dangerous gamble with lives on the line. Those who advocate for inaction still occupy positions of power, using caution as an excuse for cowardice. Meanwhile, vulnerable nations like Ukraine pay the price for this indecision.
Zelenskiy’s clarion call to action should ignite a sense of duty within all of us. The narrative that the West must wait until it’s politically convenient to act is unacceptable. Why must we be continually hostage to political cycles at the expense of humanitarian crises unfolding in real-time? It is daunting to witness an alliance of democracies eager to express their condemnation without any real willingness to provide robust support. Seeing aggressive moves by North Korean troops must demand a concerted response from the West, regardless of the circumstances that might otherwise delay action.
We need to understand that our enemy’s desperation can drive them to increasingly dangerous actions. Ignoring this reality fosters more hostility instead of defusing it. The world must recognize that what’s at stake here is not merely a regional conflict; it’s the very essence of standing together against tyranny. The phrase “let’s just wait and see” should no longer dominate our discourse. The time has