Marta Gichko17:44, 29.10.24

Anti-American alliances, including the partnership between Russia and China and the long-standing cooperation between China and North Korea, are taking on new significance.

The West has done nothing to stop the North Korean- Russian alliance. This will have large and lasting consequences, writes Joseph Bosco, a non-resident fellow at the Institute for Korean American Studies and a member of the advisory board of the Global Taiwan Institute, in a column for The Hill .

The introduction of North Korean troops into Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and their possible deployment near Kursk demonstrates that Moscow and Pyongyang no longer distinguish between defense and offense, grossly violating international law. The Russian-North Korean alliance, which Kim Jong-un insists on, cites Article 51 of the UN Charter, which justifies North Korea’s intervention as an alleged act of self-defense. However, this provision only protects the right of defense for a state that has been attacked. Therefore, attempts to justify North Korea’s and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine are mistaken and contradict the basic international principles formed after World War II.

US National Security Advisor John Kirby noted that North Korean troops, if used against Ukraine, would automatically become legitimate military targets. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hinted that North Korea’s involvement could have serious implications beyond the war in Ukraine, particularly for the Indo-Pacific region.

South Korea’s Response and Implications for Global Security

In response to North Korea’s involvement in the war, South Korea is considering sending weapons to support Ukraine. Seoul is also considering sending troops if the conflict escalates. Ukraine could thus become a new arena for a renewed Korean War, complicating an already difficult situation.

Against this backdrop of escalation, anti-American alliances, including the partnership between Russia and China and the long-standing cooperation between China and North Korea, take on new significance. China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia have all provided arms, ammunition, and support to Moscow in recent months, with North Korea becoming the first country to send troops to support Russian forces.

The US position and implications for international politics

With the conflict between Israel and Iran escalating, tensions rising over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and China’s possible threats to Taiwan, the American security system is overburdened. But U.S. foreign policy, particularly through the country’s leaders, remains a low priority.

Under growing pressure, a new “evil alliance” may be preparing further threats to the world’s democracies.

(c)UNIAN 2024