Sun Oct 27 07:40:00 UTC 2024: ## North Korea Sends Troops to Fight in Ukraine, Alarming Allies and China
**HONG KONG** – North Korea is reportedly sending troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, a move that has sparked alarm among U.S. allies and potentially strained relations with China. According to Ukrainian officials, the first North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed in combat zones as early as this weekend.
The deployment, which would mark the first large-scale overseas deployment of the North Korean military since the Vietnam War, is seen as a significant escalation of the conflict. It also raises concerns about the potential for increased security risks for North Korea’s neighbors and could further deepen the rift between China and its long-time ally.
“If the North Koreans are actually sending troops to fight with the Russians, then clearly the level of Russian willingness to support North Korea, to help defend North Korea, is going to be equivalent,” said Ian Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group. “And that really, in many ways, supplants China as North Korea’s most important protector.”
The U.S. and South Korea estimate that 3,000 North Korean troops have already been deployed, with a total of 12,000 expected to join the fight. While Russia has not explicitly confirmed the deployment, President Putin has said that it is up to both countries to decide how to implement a mutual defense agreement signed in June.
China has expressed concerns about the situation, particularly as it seeks to maintain neutrality in the Ukraine war and has been pushing for a peace plan. However, China’s influence over North Korea appears to be waning as Kim Jong Un strengthens his ties with Putin.
The North Korean deployment could further escalate the conflict and lead to increased support for Ukraine from South Korea, which is now considering upgrading its aid from non-lethal to defensive and possibly offensive weapons. Japan, another U.S. ally, is also closely monitoring the situation.
Experts believe that the arrangement could leave Moscow even more beholden to Pyongyang and increase the likelihood of Russia sharing military technologies and expertise with North Korea.
“I think they’re very uncomfortable with it,” Bremmer said of China’s position. “They were saying things like, ‘Well, the Kremlin told us that this was going to be done in a few weeks,’ and it isn’t.”
While the Chinese government has not yet publicly intervened, Bremmer suggests that it may be considering a more assertive stance in the future, potentially working with the U.S. and other countries to end the war in Ukraine.
First Piper 