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Why North Korea would go to war for Russia
North Korean troops recently came under fire in Russia's Kursk region. The skirmish means that North Korea has officially joined the war, Ukrainian officials said. Ties between Russia and North Korea entered a new phase earlier this year when Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a new mutual defense agreement.
A GROWING ALLIANCE
North Korea experts told BI the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang was a win-win for both countries. But on a practical level, they also spoke of the logistical difficulties of combining two militaries.
ASIA’S RESPONSE
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shaken the precarious balance of power in East Asia. South Korea recently said it was mulling sending weapons to Ukraine, which experts told BI could significantly help — but it has long been reluctant to aid in the conflict.
WESTERN ALLIES AND NATO
Western allies have options to react to the threat of North Korean troops in Russia, but are hamstrung by fears of escalation, military experts told BI.
NATO and Western allies are facing pressure to respond — but have historically been hesitant. Experts criticized a lack of decisive Western strategy in countering the threat.
President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the US election has amplified long-standing concerns about the future of American support for Ukraine as the grinding war against Russia continues.
