Biden: Ukraine Should Attack North Korean Troops if They Enter Its Territory

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Facts

  • US Pres. Joe Biden told media on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces should strike back if North Korean troops 'go into Ukraine,' expressing concern over the alleged presence of an estimated 10K soldiers in Russia, including in the embattled Kursk region.[1][2]
  • This comes as the Pentagon declared on Monday that Ukraine faces no curbs on using American weapons against North Korean troops if they attack Ukrainian forces.[3]
  • According to the Financial Times, which cited Ukrainian intelligence officials, about 3K North Korean troops have been secretly transported to Kursk earlier this week and housed in barracks only 50 km (30 miles) from the border.[4][5]
  • The alleged presence of North Korean units in the border region of Kursk is expected to help Russia regain control of the area where Ukrainian forces have been operating since a surprise incursion in August.[4][6]
  • Additionally, CNN reported that two undisclosed Western intelligence officials claimed that 'a small number of North Korean troops' are inside Ukraine. This information has yet to be confirmed.[7][8]
  • Officials in North Korea and Russia, including Vladimir Putin, have neither confirmed nor denied whether North Korean troops were deployed to Russia. On Tuesday, North Korea's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency reported that Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui had left to visit Russia the previous day.[3][9]

Sources: [1]Ukrainska Pravda, [2]The Kyiv Independent (a), [3]Reuters, [4]Financial Times, [5]The Kyiv Independent (b), [6]Al Jazeera, [7]Bloomberg, [8]CNN and [9]Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by TASS. Even if these unsubstantiated claims were true, the deployment of North Korean troops to aid Russia would conform to international norms. Regardless, there is no concrete evidence of North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine. The focus should remain on diplomatic solutions and de-escalation rather than fueling further tensions based on unverified reports.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Washington Post. North Korea's deployment of troops in Russia's war against Ukraine signifies a dangerous new level of alliance among authoritarian states. Moscow seeks to bolster its struggling forces while giving Pyongyang valuable combat experience against Western military techniques. This deepening collaboration between Russia and North Korea, as well as with China and Iran, poses an increasingly cohesive threat that extends far beyond Ukraine.

Predictions