What's happened
As of November 8, 2024, North Korean troops have begun engaging in combat in Ukraine's Kursk region. This follows the deployment of approximately 8,000 soldiers trained in artillery and infantry tactics, amid escalating tensions between North Korea, Russia, and Ukraine.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Business Insider UK, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, confirmed that North Korean troops have engaged in combat, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that these troops have been trained in artillery and drone operations, indicating their readiness for frontline operations. The Independent highlighted that South Korea views this deployment as a serious threat, urging for immediate withdrawal. Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that North Korean troops could serve as a gauge for future escalations by Russia, as President Zelenskyy warned of the implications for both Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula. The Moscow Times emphasized that this marks the first time Russia has invited foreign forces onto its soil in over a century, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
How we got here
The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia has escalated following deepening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Recent intelligence indicates that North Korea has sent around 10,000 troops to Russia for training and potential combat support.
More on these topics
-
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
-
Lloyd James Austin III is a retired four-star general of the United States Army. He was the 12th commander of United States Central Command. Austin was the first Black commander to head the organization.
-
Antony John Blinken is an American government official who served as United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama.
-
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
-
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
-
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
-
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.
-
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
-
Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.