North Korea’s participation in the Ukrainian conflict

A new chapter opens in the Ukrainian conflict with the entry of North Korean troops on the side of Russia. According to the New York Times and reported by the Japanese agency Kyodo, a significant number of North Korean soldiers have already lost their lives in combat. This situation has raised concerns among Western nations about the implications of such involvement.

North Korean soldiers in combat

According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, between 10,000 and 15,000 North Korean troops may already be deployed in Russia’s Kursk region. Miller said that it was expected that North Korean troops would be involved against Ukrainian forces, stressing that such units would be considered legitimate targets in the event of a clash.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, intelligence information indicates that there are already approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers in the Russian region bordering Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that there had been an initial engagement between Ukrainian and North Korean forces. The encounter was described as a “small-scale clash,” the first since the end of the Korean War in 1953. Umerov also anticipated that several units could be deployed along the front.

International concerns and Russian attacks

The escalation of the situation has attracted the attention of the foreign ministers of the enlarged G7 countries, who have expressed serious concern about the deployment of North Korean troops and its potential consequences for global security. The note published by the Farnesina warns that this development could amplify the conflict, threatening stability both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific area. Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains critical. A recent Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia left at least six civilians dead and several injured. The head of the regional military administration reported damage to key infrastructure in the area.

Future prospects

With tensions rising and North Korea being drawn into the conflict, a complex geopolitical evolution is taking place. Ukraine is seeking to strengthen international alliances to counter this new threat, while the international community continues to closely monitor developments on the ground. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining not only the outcome of these clashes but also the overall balance of power in the region.