North Korean forces in Ukraine war mean “huge” risk of escalation

Politico reported the information.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service says North Korea has already deployed 1,500 special forces troops to Russia.

Politico writes that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that North Korea sending troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine would pose a "huge" escalation risk, pushing the conflict into a new stage. "This is a huge threat of further escalation of Russian aggression against Ukraine," he said.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed this concern during a joint press conference in Kyiv. Barrot said such a move would signal that Moscow was struggling in the war. But "it would be serious and push the conflict into a new stage, an additional escalatory stage," he added.

This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused North Korea of preparing to send soldiers to aid Moscow. Meanwhile, South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported that North Korea had already deployed 1,500 special forces troops to Russia.

Both the Kremlin and Pyongyang have denied involvement in military transfers, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated he could not confirm reports of North Koreans actively participating in the war. However, last summer, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a strategic partnership treaty pledging military assistance if either is attacked. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine conflict would pose a "grave security threat" to the world.

According to Politico, Barrot expressed support for Ukraine’s plan to end the war with Russia, committing to work with Ukrainian officials to secure international backing for the proposal. Zelenskyy recently unveiled Kyiv's "victory plan," aiming to persuade Moscow to halt its invasion through negotiations.

Ukraine’s Western partners are considering the proposal, which is crucial for Kyiv. A key element is a formal NATO invitation, which allies are hesitant to grant until after the war. Barrot warned that a Russian victory would undermine international order, emphasizing the need to advance Zelenskyy’s victory plan and gather broad support for it.

“A Russian victory would be a consecration for the law of the strongest and would push the international order toward chaos. That is why our exchanges should allow us to make progress on President Zelenskyy’s victory plan and rally the greatest number possible of countries around it.” Barrot said.