In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, North Korea has deployed thousands of soldiers to Ukrainian soil. In response, the US issued a stern warning on Wednesday to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stating that North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia will return in body bags.
US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood addressed the Security Council, emphasizing that if troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) enter Ukraine to support Russia, they will inevitably face dire consequences. He advised Kim Jong Un to reconsider such a reckless and dangerous move.
Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, challenged the narrative, questioning why Western countries can openly support Ukraine while its allies, like North Korea, cannot assist Moscow in the conflict. This comment sparked a heated debate with representatives from the US, UK, South Korea, Ukraine, and others during the Security Council meeting.
The US, UK, and other nations accused Russia of violating UN resolutions and the founding UN Charter by allowing North Korean troops to aid Moscow. South Korea’s UN Ambassador, Junkook Hwang, stated that supporting an act of aggression that fundamentally violates the principles of the UN Charter is illegal. He reiterated that any effort to send troops from North Korea to Russia constitutes a clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are already in eastern Russia and are likely to participate in combat operations in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border.
On Wednesday, the US escalated its actions against Russia by imposing sanctions on 398 companies from more than a dozen countries, including India, China, Hong Kong, the UAE, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, and Switzerland. These companies face accusations of providing products and services that enable Russia to sustain its military efforts and evade existing sanctions.
These measures by the US Treasury and Homeland Security aim to punish all nations offering material assistance to the Kremlin or aiding Russia in circumventing the extensive sanctions imposed since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.