Suspected North Korean ties to Ukraine conflict alarm Pentagon

Washington is worried

New, more concerning details have emerged about the pact between Russia and North Korea, signed by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un earlier in June.

The Pentagon speaks out

When questioned about the growing military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, the Department of Defense in the United States responded with a very concerning answer.

Keeping an eye on North Korea

“I mean, that's certainly something to keep an eye on”, declared Pentagon press secretary major general Pat Ryder about Russia and North Korea developing a closer bond.

Cannon fodder of an illegal war

“I think that if I were North Korean military personnel management, I would be questioning my choices on sending my forces to be cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine”, commented the Pentagon spokesperson.

Russia's numeric superiority

According to political news website Politico, one of the pillars of Moscow’s strategy in Ukraine has been overwhelming Kyiv with Russia’s numeric superiority.

Thinning out their ranks

However, with the war dragging on since its start in February 2024, Russian troops run the risk of spreading too thin in the Ukrainian battlefield, as losses continue to grow.

Army of mercenaries

Russia, however, has started to rely on mercenaries from places as far as Cuba and even forcibly recruiting African migrants to fight in Ukraine.

A military alliance in all but name

Politico highlights how in early June, Russia, and North Korea signed a partnership treaty together, that many experts label a military alliance in all but name.

'Mutual assistance'

Although the details of the Moscow-Pyongyang treaty are unknown to the public, both countries have revealed that it includes a “mutual assistance” clause, establishing that one country will provide military assistance to the other in case of conflict.

Bullets in exchange of food

Reuters writes that Washington and Seoul have accused Pyongyang to send military equipment to Moscow in exchange for food and technology. North Korea and Russia deny these claims.

The first unit out of many?

What is true, Reuters writes, is that North Korea is sending an engineer and construction unit into Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, to start to rebuild the country. Will more units soon follow?

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