What's happened
North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, with many stationed in the Kursk region. This deployment raises concerns about the escalation of the Ukraine conflict and the potential impact on regional security dynamics as Russia seeks to reclaim territory lost to Ukraine.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, North Korean troops have been confirmed in the Kursk region, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte labeling it a 'dangerous expansion' of the war. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post highlights that Ukraine is concerned about the implications of North Korean military support for Russia, emphasizing the potential for increased international involvement in the conflict. The Pentagon has noted that while the number of North Korean troops is relatively small compared to the overall forces, their presence could still impact Russian counterattacks in the region. Analysts express skepticism about the North Koreans' combat readiness, given their lack of recent battlefield experience, as reported by multiple sources.
How we got here
The conflict in Ukraine has intensified since Russia's invasion in 2022, with recent Ukrainian offensives reclaiming territory. North Korea's military cooperation with Russia marks a significant shift, as both nations seek to bolster their military capabilities amid ongoing tensions.
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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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Vladivostok is a city and the administrative centre of the Far Eastern Federal District and Primorsky Krai, Russia, located around the Golden Horn Bay, not far from Russia's borders with China and North Korea.
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Kim Jong-un is a North Korean politician who has been the supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012.
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Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician serving as Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2010 and Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy since 2006.