Global Security Risks Emerge as North Korea Deploys Troops to Support Russia

By Yonghan Park, Senior Researcher, Korea Institute for Defense Analyses

North Korea’s long-standing defiance of international norms, including its illegal nuclear weapons program, has escalated into direct involvement in the Ukraine war. Reports confirm that North Korea has sent special forces to support Russia’s military operations, exacerbating global security threats and heightening tensions in Northeast Asia. This unprecedented step solidifies the growing alliance between North Korea and Russia, posing challenges not only to Europe but also to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

The situation came to light in early October, when reports indicated that North Korean special forces were preparing to join the conflict in Ukraine. On October 18, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service provided evidence of these deployments, followed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirming their presence in Russia on October 23. The European Union, on October 24, condemned North Korea’s troop deployment as a violation of international law and an act of hostility. The United Nations also voiced opposition, warning against escalating the conflict with additional military forces.

North Korea’s role in the Ukraine war has been intensifying over the past year. In early August, North Korean military officials were seen on Ukrainian battlefields, inspecting KN-23 missile launch sites provided to Russia. The deepening partnership was formalized in June, when North Korea and Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty, including a clause allowing military support in response to armed aggression.

In September, North Korea’s state-run media showed Kim Jong-un observing special warfare training, signaling serious preparations for troop deployment. Analysts believe Russia, weakened by Ukraine’s strikes on its mainland in August, sought military assistance from North Korea to bolster its faltering war efforts.

While North Korea initially supported Russia through arms supplies, including missiles and ammunition, the direct involvement of troops marks a dangerous escalation with global implications.

North Korea’s participation in the Ukraine conflict could significantly alter the dynamics of global security. The growing North Korea-Russia alliance risks polarizing the international system, potentially creating a bloc consisting of North Korea, Russia, and China, in opposition to South Korea, the United States, and Japan. This division enhances North Korea’s strategic value to Russia and China, bolstering Kim Jong-un’s regime and complicating denuclearization and sanction efforts.

The parallels to historical global conflicts are alarming. Christopher Clark’s book Sleepwalkers draws lessons from the buildup to World War I, emphasizing how localized tensions and mutual distrust among powers can spiral into global conflict. Similarly, North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine adds to a volatile global landscape already strained by tensions in the Middle East and fears of conflict in Taiwan.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned that North Korea’s troop deployment represents a “very dangerous escalation,” urging the international community to act decisively to prevent the internationalization of the Ukraine war.

For North Korea, deepening its ties with Russia serves multiple purposes. Strengthened alliances with Russia and China enhance Pyongyang’s leverage in regional geopolitics and secure external support for its regime. However, this alignment also risks enabling North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and increasing the likelihood of military provocations.

Efforts to curb North Korea’s growing assertiveness must focus on suppressing miscalculations by Pyongyang, enhancing multilateral solidarity among allies, and reducing the impact of its military deployment on the Ukraine conflict.

The international community must act urgently to halt the cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Their collaboration not only prolongs the Ukraine war but also entrenches destabilizing alliances that threaten global peace. Ending the war in Ukraine in a manner that disincentivizes such alliances is crucial to breaking the cycle of mutual support between Russia and North Korea.

The stakes are clear: unchecked, this partnership could prolong conflicts, destabilize regions, and escalate into broader confrontations. By uniting against these threats, the international community can counter this emerging axis of instability and work toward a more secure global order.