North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has strongly criticised the United States and the West, accusing them of using the Ukrainian military as “shock troops” to fight Russia, which he claims could lead to a global conflict. In remarks reported by state media on Monday, Kim stated that the West’s military assistance to Ukraine risks escalating the conflict into a broader war.
Kim argued that the United States and its allies are expanding their military interventions worldwide, with Ukraine being used as a proxy force against Russia. He expressed concerns that the continuous flow of military aid to Ukraine could potentially trigger a global war, even suggesting the possibility of World War III.
While Kim did not address the accusations from Seoul and Washington that North Korea had sent over 10,000 soldiers to assist Russia, he emphasised his country’s commitment to strengthening its nuclear defence without limits. Pyongyang has denied the troop deployment, and Kim’s comments focused more on the geopolitical implications of Western involvement in Ukraine.
This comes after South Korea claimed last week that North Korean troops had already begun participating in combat operations alongside Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. The two nations have increasingly deepened military ties, with North Korea ratifying a historic defence pact with Russia last week, solidifying their alliance.
Experts believe that North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia may be a strategic move to gain advanced Russian technology and battlefield experience. In return, the West fears that Russia may provide North Korea with crucial technological support to advance its nuclear weapons program.
North Korea has recently conducted several ballistic missile tests, including the trial of a new solid-fuel ICBM, highlighting the growing military collaboration between the two nations. The ongoing situation has shifted the stance of South Korea, which has traditionally resisted sending lethal weapons to Ukraine, though recent statements suggest it may reconsider this policy.
