NATO should consider strikes on DPRK troops in Ukraine — U.S. Congressman Turner

The Voice of America reported the information.

Turner emphasized that the Ukrainian military should strike legitimate targets deep into Russia with weapons of the United States, NATO allies, or their own weapons without restrictions.

The congressman expressed his belief that the United States and NATO allies should seriously consider and discuss the possibility of “directly attacking North Korean forces” if they are present in Ukraine and actively engaged in attacks against it. He argued that North Korean troops have no place in Europe and should not be involved in assaults on a European country. Additionally, he suggested that it would be in NATO’s and the United States’ interest, as a NATO member, to prevent North Korean communist forces from entering and attacking a European nation.

The chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence also noted that the participation of DPRK troops in the war against Ukraine should be a red line for the United States and NATO. In his opinion, in this case, the allies should not rule out an attack on North Korean soldiers.

At the same time, Turner emphasized that an attack on DPRK troops should not be necessarily approved, but “a reasonable discussion on this topic should be held.”

He added that he thinks North Korean troops should not be exempt from being considered valid military targets for the United States and NATO.

Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea

On October 4, the Kyiv Post reported that 20 soldiers were killed in a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, including six North Korean military personnel advising the Russian army.

The South Korean Defense Minister warned on October 8 that North Korea may deploy troops to Ukraine in support of Russia.

At an October 17 press conference in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Russia's plan to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers for combat in Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, later reported that 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are training in eastern Russia, preparing for deployment to Ukraine. He added that the first unit of 2,600 soldiers is en route to Kursk, where Ukraine has established a stronghold.

Ukraine has since shared intelligence with NATO about North Korea’s military involvement and requested data from alliance members.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the participation of the North Korean military in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia would mean a “significant escalation.” 

Later, it was reported that South Korea was considering providing Ukraine with military and intelligence assistance in response to North Korea's sending its military to fight on the side of Russia.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported that on October 23, the North Korean military was spotted in the Kursk region.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that according to intelligence, the first North Korean military would be used by Russia in combat zones on October 27-28.

On October 25, South Korea's intelligence agency announced that North Korea plans to send a second batch of its military personnel to Russia, totaling up to 10,000 people.