What's happened
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised concerns over the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia's Kursk region, estimating their numbers at around 11,000. The U.S. supports this assessment and warns of potential combat involvement, while diplomatic efforts are underway to address the escalating situation.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, President Zelenskyy criticized Western allies for their inadequate response to North Korean troop deployments, stating, "We see an increase in North Koreans and no increase in the reaction of our partners." The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, warning that they could soon be deployed in combat. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post reported on Blinken's discussions with Chinese officials, urging them to curb the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, highlighting the geopolitical implications of this alliance. The New York Times noted that the U.S. is concerned about China's unease regarding the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea, which could affect regional stability.
How we got here
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has intensified since the latter's invasion in February 2022. Recently, North Korea has increased its military cooperation with Russia, sending troops to bolster Moscow's efforts against Ukraine, raising alarms among Western allies.
More on these topics
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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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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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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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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.