Title: U.S. Set to Retaliate North Korea’s Active Role in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, issued a stern warning that the U.S. is ready to counter North Korea’s decision to redouble its troops in support of Russia’s ongoing military operations against Ukraine. This warning came post the confirmation by both the U.S. and South Korea that North Korean military personnel are actively participating in the conflict against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

Amid escalating tensions, the U.S.’s chief diplomat made an urgent visit to Brussels to confer with his NATO and EU peers. The objective was to reinforce President Joe Biden’s strategic plans related to Ukraine’s crisis, which comes shortly after the re-election of Donald Trump as the U.S. President.

“We had a fruitful dialogue today about our sustained backing for Ukraine amidst the relentless Russian hostility, and now the added complexity of North Korean forces actively involved in the conflict. This situation warrants, and will receive, a serious response,” Blinken stated to the press on Wednesday.

Blinken called upon U.S. allies to amplify their support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for European partners and others to back Ukraine’s mobilization efforts. He urged NATO nations to concentrate their endeavors on “guaranteeing that Ukraine has the financial resources, military ammunition, and mobilized forces to effectively combat in 2025, or to negotiate peace from a position of power.”

Blinken also affirmed President Biden’s commitment to ensuring the optimal utilization of available resources for Ukraine before Trump, who previously questioned U.S. support for Ukraine, assumes office on January 20. He did not provide specific details about the latest equipment the U.S. is sending but stated that the U.S. will modify and enhance its approach.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, on a separate note, emphasized China’s instrumental role in supporting Russia’s military campaign. He expressed concerns about Russia’s expanding economic and military collaboration with China, North Korea, and Iran, considering it a threat to Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and North America.

China, being one of the few allies of North Korea, is under pressure to act responsibly due to fears that the deployment of North Korean troops could dangerously escalate the conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. voiced concerns to China in October regarding North Korean and Russian activities causing instability.

The Kremlin has not commented on the reports of North Korean involvement, nor has it commented on the presence of North Korean troops in its territory. Meanwhile, the U.S. confirmed that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers had been dispatched to eastern Russia, with most of them now located in Kursk Oblast, engaging in combat operations alongside Russian forces.

South Korea’s top security agency also confirmed the active involvement of North Korean forces in combat operations against Ukraine in Kursk. Ukrainian forces have successfully seized more than two dozen settlements in Kursk since launching an incursion on August 6.