North Korean soldiers who have been deployed to support Russia in the Ukraine are expected to suffer significant losses due to their lack of training for the geography and climate, according to Estonian Colonel Ants Kiviselg. North Korea has sent nearly 12,000 troops to Russia, including 500 officers and three generals, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) however these soldiers have typically been trained to fight in mountainous terrain, unlike the conditions in Ukraine. Kiviselg suggests that communication issues between North Korean and Russian troops could also cause difficulties. His comments come as the Ukrainian conflict increases in intensity, with Russian forces reportedly advancing at its fastest rate since the early months of the war.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on allied nations to take action against the training of North Korean troops in Russia for deployment against Ukrainian forces. Zelenskyy raised the possibility of a preemptive strike on the training camps, but stated Ukraine requires approval to use Western long-range weaponry for the task. Western leaders view this development as a considerable escalation with potential implications for the Indo-Pacific region and possible technology transfers from Moscow to Pyongyang. Meanwhile, Russia has signaled it would interpret such a strike as a significant escalation, with Putin warning of war with the U.S. and NATO. In other news, Russia’s ongoing strikes on Ukraine continue to result in casualties and destruction of infrastructure, even as Ukraine reports a slowing in Russia’s drone campaign.
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South Korea and Canada have demanded the withdrawal of North Korean troops aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine and referred to the deployment as a significant escalation of tension, threatening security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. The call was made during a meeting of the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers in Ottawa. Both countries denounced North Korea’s increased military cooperation with Russia and its supply of ammunition and ballistic missiles to support Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. They are closely watching what Russia may be providing North Korea in return for its military support. The ministers agreed to deepen regional cooperation and intensify negotiations for a military and defense confidentiality agreement.
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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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The revelation that 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia’s Kursk region is nothing short of astonishing. The world seems engrossed in other matters, yet here, in the shadows of two increasingly volatile nations, we have North Korea waging a proxy war in Europe. It boggles my mind how this isn’t a front-page headline everywhere, demanding urgent action and discussion. Are we collectively numb to the implications of this arrangement, or does it signal a deeper disarray within our response to global military dynamics?
The notion that these troops are potentially being deployed alongside their Russian counterparts only heightens my anxiety.… Continue reading
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has implored western allies to devise robust strategies for aiding Ukraine as it braces for combat with North Korean soldiers on their soil. The plea surfaced as it was revealed that these troops are expected to fight with their Russian cohorts, with an estimated 8,000 North Korean forces having arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast for participation in the war. While these forces are yet to engage in warfare, President Zelensky foresees this occurring in a matter of days. As Zelensky calls for new military alliances, such as an Asian Security Alliance between Japan, South Korea and possibly China, to counter the Russia-North Korea collaboration, he urges the West and international institutions to react strongly to Putin’s testing of global reactions with the military build-up at Ukraine’s border.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised the inadequate reaction of western allies to the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. The US and South Korea have called on China to use its influence over Russia and North Korea to prevent escalation. Anton Blinken, the US Secretary of State, said around 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia on the border with Ukraine, with the belief that Russia is preparing to deploy them. China has so far remained silent on the situation. Meanwhile, Russian forces have reportedly captured another village in eastern Ukraine.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that about 8,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia are preparing for deployment into combat in Ukraine. Blinken revealed that the US believes a total of 10,000 North Korean troops had been sent to Russia for training before being based in the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine. The upcoming deployment could escalate the Russia-Ukraine war into a multi-region conflict, involving North and South Korea. Blinken’s comments come after North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile and hours before Ukraine’s president warned that North Korean troops could join the fight against Ukraine within days. The US, South Korea, and the Pentagon have all warned against the deployment of North Korean troops in the battle.
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North Korea has launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that flew for 86 minutes, marking the longest flight time yet. The missile reached a height of 7,000 km. South Korean and US officials have agreed to “take strong and varied response measures,” and South Korea has vowed to impose fresh sanctions on North Korea in response. This comes amid deteriorating relations between the Koreas and allegations of North Korean troops supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine. Both North Korea and Russia have yet to confirm or deny these claims.
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South Korea’s UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, warned that North Korean soldiers sent to aid Russia in Ukraine will end up as “cannon fodder” and their pay will go directly to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Russia has reportedly been struggling to find enough manpower for its military, resorting to substantial signing bonuses and conscripting prisoners, and has turned to allies like North Korea and Iran for help. Hwang, speaking at a UN Security Council briefing, echoed comments made by the US and Ukraine about Russia’s tactics in the war. Reports suggest North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood