As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, NATO and the European Union are stepping up their attempts to persuade China to exert greater influence on the North Korean issue and urge North Korea to stop supporting Russia's military operations. Recently, intelligence agencies from the United States, South Korea and Ukraine pointed out that North Korea may have sent more than 12,000 troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast to assist the Russian army in fighting Ukrainian forces. In return, Russia provides missile technology to North Korea. This dynamic has aroused concerns among Western countries, prompting them to hope to curb North Korea's assistance to Russia through China's diplomatic pressure.

International relations behind North Korea's aid to Russia

Against the backdrop of North Korea sending troops to support Russia, the United States hopes to exert political pressure on China through its allies and use Sino-North Korean relations to force North Korea to converge. Since China and North Korea established diplomatic relations in 1949, the two countries have always had close relations, and have even been described as "lips and teeth dependent." Therefore, Western countries hope that China can use its special relationship with North Korea to help constrain Pyongyang's behavior. However, whether this idea will succeed remains to be seen, as China's position is complex and changeable.

The pressure from the EU and NATO is not only verbal, but also reflected in actions in the Asia-Pacific region. Last week, the European Union signed security agreements with Japan and South Korea to further deepen cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. This move was widely interpreted as a silent warning to China, suggesting that if China does not take positive measures on the North Korean issue, Western influence in the Asia-Pacific region may be further strengthened.

NATO Secretary-General's call and the globalization trend of regional security

In an opinion article in Politico, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte pointed out that China has a special responsibility to constrain the actions of North Korea and Russia. He called on China to use its influence on Pyongyang and Moscow to ensure that the two countries stop supporting the war. Rutte stressed that the exchange of missile technology not only poses a threat to Europe, but also poses potential risks to Japan, South Korea and the continental United States. Rutte also pointed out that the security issues in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are no longer independent, but a globalized war zone, and this shift in security perspective requires more coordinated responses from all countries.

With Asia-Pacific countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand regularly participating in NATO meetings, this trend has further deepened the close connection of cross-regional security cooperation. The growing concern of Western countries about North Korea's actions to support Russia shows that they regard security issues in the Asia-Pacific region as part of their global strategy.

China's choice: a balance between economy and geopolitics

Despite the growing closeness between North Korea and Russia, some analysts believe that China is not interested in forming an "anti-Western alliance" consisting of North Korea and Russia. China is more concerned about maintaining a stable international security environment to cope with domestic economic challenges and maintain good relations with its European and Asian neighbors. China has long been committed to economic development and tends to remain neutral in foreign policy to avoid being involved in deep international conflicts.

However, the current complex geopolitical situation forces China to face difficult choices. China does not want to intensify the confrontation with Western countries, nor does it want to undermine its traditional friendship with North Korea and Russia. Therefore, China's attitude will largely affect the development of the future situation.

EU's security cooperation with Japan and South Korea upgrades: responding to global challenges

During his recent visit to Japan and South Korea, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell discussed with local leaders the dynamics of North Korean military aid to Russia and its potential risks. The visit led to the EU's security cooperation partnership with Japan and South Korea. Borrell said that the EU is not a military alliance, but in the current geopolitical context, it has the responsibility to become a provider and partner of global security. Borrell's remarks not only show the EU's attitude, but also highlight the EU's concern about security issues in the Asian region.

This move indicates that the Asia-Pacific region is rising in global security issues. As the actions of China, Russia and North Korea have attracted widespread attention, European and American countries have cooperated more closely with their Asia-Pacific allies. Through this upgrade of security cooperation, the EU hopes to form a multilateral cooperation security network on a global scale to cope with multiple challenges, including North Korea's aid to Russia.

The US's position and continued support for Ukraine

During a recent meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary-General Rutte mentioned that the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions have become a unified theater of war. Blinken said that the United States is determined to provide Ukraine with as much assistance as possible at this stage to curb Russia's offensive. By increasing its military support for Ukraine, the United States hopes to gain a more favorable position for Ukraine on the battlefield so as to increase Ukraine's bargaining chips in future peace talks.

Blinken's remarks also show that the United States hopes to use the power of its allies to curb any forces that support Russia, including North Korea, on a global scale. The US believes that only by increasing pressure on Russia and its allies on a global scale can Russia's aggression against Ukraine be effectively stopped.

Will China take action?

Under the continued pressure from the West, it is unclear whether China will take measures to curb North Korea's support for Russia. China has long taken a cautious attitude on the North Korean issue, hoping to maintain North Korea's stability to maintain regional balance, but unwilling to be overly involved in international disputes. At present, although the pressure from Western countries has increased China's diplomatic pressure to a certain extent, considering China's own geopolitical and economic interests, China's response is likely to remain restrained.

In the future, whether North Korea will continue to support Russia and whether China's attitude will change will still be closely watched by the international community. Faced with an increasingly complex international situation, China will continue to face challenges in maintaining neutrality and maintaining a balance in international relations. Regardless of China's final choice, this incident has become a key node for countries to re-examine the relationship between cooperation and confrontation in international affairs, foreshadowing potential changes in the future global security pattern.