Recently, the news that North Korea sent troops to support Russia has attracted widespread attention and vigilance internationally. The United States and Ukraine strongly condemned this and believed that this move would increase the complexity of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Several influential members of the U.S. Congress called for the United States to take direct military action in Ukraine if necessary to deal with the risk of North Korean intervention.

North Korean troops support Russian troops and may be deployed to the front line soon

Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence agencies revealed that about 1,500 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers may be sent to the Ukrainian battlefield, further exacerbating regional tensions. The U.S. government confirmed the news on October 23. John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said that North Korean soldiers may be deployed to Kursk Oblast on the Russian-Ukrainian border to fight Ukrainian troops in the region. Kirby added that "at least some North Korean soldiers are very likely to be deployed to the Kursk region," which means that the North Korean army may face off with the Ukrainian army before entering Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky warned on social media that North Korean soldiers are currently being trained at multiple military bases in Russia's Far East and may be deployed to the battlefield as early as this weekend. He called on the international community to take a firm stand on the matter and not to be uncertain or indifferent to North Korea's participation in the war. He pointed out that "international peace represented by the UN Charter should not be challenged by the joint actions of North Korea and Russia." Zelensky specifically mentioned that he hopes that international leaders can put pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang to ensure that the Russian-Ukrainian war will not be further expanded due to North Korea's intervention.

Putin's partnership with North Korea has attracted attention

Russian President Putin did not deny the intervention of the North Korean army at the press conference. He pointed out that according to the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and North Korea, if either party is attacked by force, the other party will provide support, including military support. Putin made it clear that Russia has the right to take necessary measures within the framework of the treaty to support its ally North Korea. His statement was seen by the outside world as a tacit acceptance of the legitimacy of the participation of the North Korean army, and also made the outside world worry whether this treaty would further deepen the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

Response of US congressmen: direct military action may be taken

The participation of the North Korean army has attracted widespread attention in the US political circles, and many congressmen believe that this situation will seriously threaten the security of Ukraine and its allies. Michael Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that "if North Korean troops confront Ukrainian troops on sovereign Ukrainian territory on the battlefield in Ukraine, the United States should consider taking direct military action." Turner's statement reflects the strong reaction of some U.S. lawmakers to this new dynamic. They believe that the United States must safeguard Ukraine's sovereignty in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

Military experts' concerns: Conflict may escalate out of control

Although some U.S. lawmakers support direct military action, military analysts believe that the U.S. response may still be mainly moderate, such as providing Ukraine with more advanced weapons to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities. However, some experts warned that North Korean troops use mostly old weapons, which may lead to serious accidents. Harry Kazianis, director of security affairs at the Washington think tank Center for the National Interest, pointed out that if North Korean weapons are accidentally fired into NATO member states, such as Poland or Romania, it may trigger an irreversible escalation of the conflict.

Kazianis emphasized that such accidental firing accidents will not only escalate tensions between NATO and Russia, but may also make the situation on the Korean Peninsula more complicated. He pointed out that "if North Korean weapons cause casualties within NATO territory, the situation will get out of control very quickly." Kazianis's concerns show that if NATO is involved in the conflict, it may trigger a regional war larger than the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Global concerns and potential consequences

North Korea's participation in the Russo-Ukrainian war may have a wide range of chain reactions and have a profound impact on the global security landscape. Many international relations experts worry that North Korea's participation will prompt more countries to support Ukraine and may lead to the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict into a cross-border war. NATO's relationship with Russia is already very tense, and North Korea's involvement will undoubtedly complicate the situation and increase the possibility of international intervention.

For North Korea's actions, it is necessary for the international community to take decisive action to avoid further deterioration of the situation. At present, many countries have called on North Korea to stop participating in the Russo-Ukrainian war, believing that peaceful means are the best way to resolve the conflict. At the same time, the United States is closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean army and preparing for possible military confrontations in the future.

In the future, North Korea's role in the Russo-Ukrainian war will have a profound impact on the global security situation. Whether the international community can prevent the deterioration of the situation through diplomatic means will determine whether the world can avoid a larger-scale war at this time.