What's happened
North Korean troops have reportedly engaged in combat alongside Russian forces in Ukraine's Kursk region, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian President Zelensky has called for increased support from allies as the situation intensifies, with concerns about the implications for global security.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, North Korean troops have begun engaging in combat, with significant casualties reported among them. President Zelensky emphasized the need for international support, stating, 'The first battles with North Korean soldiers mark a new chapter of global instability.' Meanwhile, The Independent highlighted that North Korean units have already been shelled, indicating their active involvement in the conflict. The Pentagon confirmed that thousands of North Korean troops are being deployed, which U.S. officials describe as a serious escalation. This development has raised concerns about the potential for the conflict to expand beyond Ukraine, as noted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who warned of increased ferocity in the war.
How we got here
The conflict in Ukraine has escalated since Russia's invasion in 2022, with significant territorial gains and losses on both sides. Recently, North Korea has sent troops to support Russia, raising alarms among Western nations about the potential for a broader international conflict.
More on these topics
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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Zaporizhzhia, Zaporizhia, or Zaporizhzhya, also known as Zaporozhye and formerly as Alexandrovsk or Oleksandrivsk, is a city in south-eastern Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnipro. It is the administrative centre of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Zaporiz