The Escalation of the Ukrainian Conflict

The escalation of the conflict has long been signaled by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western allies. Recently, it emerged that “the first North Korean troops have already come under Ukrainian fire in Kursk”. This information comes from the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, substantiating the fears of Kiev and NATO.

The Arrival of North Korean Troops

Kovalenko, the Ukrainian official, did not provide details about the fighting or North Korean losses. However, this development had been expected for days. On Saturday, Ukrainian military intelligence reported the arrival of 7,000 North Korean troops on Russia’s border with Ukraine, ready to join the fight. Zelensky criticized allies for their “zero” response to the escalation provoked by North Korea. Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang are growing stronger, as demonstrated by the meeting in the Kremlin between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Song Hui. The latter conveyed Kim Jong-un’s “deeply sincere greetings” to Putin. Just last Friday, Choe assured Sergei Lavrov that North Korea would “stand firmly by” Russia until victory in Ukraine.

Regional Concerns and Western Sustainability

This military alliance also worries South Korea. President Yoon Suk-yeol has called for “thorough countermeasures” against the “illegal” military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, pledging to strengthen national security. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are facing difficulties on the eastern front. Russian troops have been rapidly gaining territory in the Donetsk region, advancing 610 square kilometers in October alone, according to an AFP analysis based on data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The West is trying to maintain unity in favor of Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, visiting Kiev, promised that support for Zelensky will be “rock solid." However, this support does not translate into concrete actions to restore the initiative on the ground. Baerbock acknowledged that Moscow is seeking military assistance from Pyongyang and called on the allies to provide more air defense systems. Zelensky asks Germany for long-range Taurus missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz vetoed the request for fear of escalating the conflict. Scholz also rejected Ukraine’s request for an immediate invitation to NATO, a key point in Zelensky’s “Victory Plan” to Western allies.