When an estimated 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia’s Kursk region in October 2024, it was a reality few observers had predicted. A handful of months later, in January and February the following year, this number would be topped up by as many as a further 4,000 men, as the hermit kingdom sought to signal it was going all out in assisting the Kremlin’s war against Ukraine.

With North Korea and Russia now in a solidified alliance bound by a mutual security pact, we should not be surprised at the recent claim by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that Russia plans to accept an additional 30,000 North Korean troops later this year. Though we do not yet know where or how they are likely to be deployed, one thing is for sure: the alliance between Russia and North Korea is blooming.

By now, the story is well-known. In exchange for vast numbers of munitions (most notably over 12 million rounds of artillery), ballistic missiles, and manpower, North Korea has sought everything it wants and needs from its former Cold War patron. This has included humanitarian assistance, crude oil, ideological support, and missile and military technology much coveted by Kim Jong-un.

A war in Europe is not limited to Europe

A war in Europe is not limited to Europe

Pyongyang has not done badly in this regard. North Korea may not yet have tested any........

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