Jamie Spencer
House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) raised the stakes on Wednesday by urging the U.S. to consider “direct military action” if North Korean troops join the war in Ukraine. This comes after the Biden administration confirmed that thousands of North Korean soldiers are now stationed in Russia, undergoing military training, with concerns they could soon be deployed to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
North Korean Troops in Russia: A New Escalation
The White House revealed earlier on Wednesday that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been moved to military bases in eastern Russia. National security spokesperson John Kirby detailed the soldiers’ journey from North Korea’s Wonsan region to Vladivostok in eastern Russia, where they are currently receiving basic combat training. There is a growing concern that, after completing this training, the troops may be sent to fight in Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also confirmed this troubling development, stating that there is clear evidence of North Korean military personnel in Russia. Should these troops engage in combat, it would signify an unprecedented escalation in the conflict and an expansion of the alliance between Russia and North Korea.
Calls for U.S. Response
Turner, in a strongly worded statement, emphasized that the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine should be a “red line” for the United States. He argued that if North Korean soldiers were to enter Ukraine’s sovereign territory, the U.S. should seriously consider taking direct military action against them. “If North Korean troops were to invade Ukraine’s sovereign territory, the United States needs to seriously consider taking direct military action against the North Korean troops,” Turner said.
This sentiment underscores the increasing pressure on the Biden administration to take a more assertive stance as the situation develops. The U.S. has already briefed Ukrainian officials about the implications of North Korean troops potentially entering the battlefield, according to Kirby, and further action may hinge on what happens next.
North Korean Soldiers: Legitimate Military Targets
Kirby made it clear that if North Korean soldiers are deployed to fight in Ukraine, they would be treated as legitimate military targets by Ukrainian forces. “If they do deploy to fight against Ukraine, they’re fair game, they’re fair targets,” he said, adding that Ukraine would defend itself against them just as it has against Russian soldiers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been sounding the alarm about North Korea’s involvement for weeks, warning that as many as 10,000 North Korean troops could be sent to Ukraine. Speaking in Brussels, Zelensky indicated that Pyongyang has already sent tactical personnel and officers to support Russia’s war efforts.
Calls for Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine
The potential deployment of North Korean troops has reignited the debate over whether the U.S. should ease restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons. Zelensky has repeatedly urged Washington to lift these limits, arguing that Ukraine needs to strike Russian territory in retaliation for cross-border attacks. Turner echoed these sentiments in his statement, calling on the Biden administration to reconsider its position. “If North Korean troops attack Ukraine from Russian territory, Ukraine should be permitted to use American weapons to respond,” Turner said.
However, Kirby cautioned that it’s still unclear whether North Korean soldiers will ultimately engage in combat. “We don’t know what they’re going to do,” Kirby said. “We don’t know if they’re going to deploy into combat or not, and if they do, at what strength.” The U.S. plans to continue closely monitoring the situation while maintaining its flow of security assistance to Kyiv.
A Growing Russia-North Korea Alliance
The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia marks a significant intensification of the military ties between the two countries. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un formalized a partnership, pledging to provide mutual support against shared adversaries. As part of this burgeoning alliance, Pyongyang has reportedly provided Moscow with artillery shells and ballistic missiles, receiving access to aid and technology for its nuclear and space programs in return.
The potential involvement of North Korean troops in the Ukraine war could mark a dramatic shift in the dynamics of the conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, calls for stronger U.S. involvement and increased military support for Ukraine are growing. Whether or not North Korean soldiers ultimately enter the fight, their presence in Russia signals a deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, one that poses new challenges for U.S. foreign policy in the region.
