Ukraine is no longer fighting only against Russia. Is the conflict threatening a world war?

A close associate of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Bok, came to Russia on a mission to supervise North Korean soldiers sent to support the war in Ukraine.
Information about the general’s arrival to Russia was published by the Japanese Kyodo agency, citing the Ukrainian intelligence services (HUR). The presence of Kim Jong Bok, deputy chief of the general staff of the Korean People’s Army, sheds new light on the escalation of relations between North Korea and Russia and on North Korea’s involvement in the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Deputy Chief of Army Staff and trusted man of Kim Jong Un
Kim Jong Bok is one of the most important figures in the Korean army, a trusted person of Kim Jong Un who accompanied him during numerous military inspections. His high position and previous experience in commanding North Korean special forces are intended to ensure proper control over North Korean soldiers supporting Russia.
According to the North Korea Leadership Watch website, General Kim is a person who regularly participates in strategic military activities and symbolizes the growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Korean soldiers on the front in Ukraine
South Korean intelligence services reported that North Korea has sent about three thousand troops to Russia, and plans are to increase this number to ten thousand by the end of the year.
The presence of North Korean soldiers was also confirmed by American and European intelligence agencies, including Poland and the Netherlands, which expressed concern about North Korea’s growing role in Russia’s war efforts. According to the Ukrainian services, some North Korean troops have already been deployed in the Kursk Oblast, where a Ukrainian counter-offensive has been ongoing since August.
Potential political and military consequences
The inclusion of North Korean soldiers in hostilities on the Ukrainian front sparked a wave of warnings from the West. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the presence of these forces could lead to an escalation of the conflict and potentially draw the world into a broader conflict.
As Zelensky noted, the presence of North Korean soldiers is “the first step on the road to world war”, appealing to NATO and Western countries for a decisive response.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office announced the initiation of an investigation into whether North Korea’s actions can be considered a crime of aggression. In turn, NATO representatives emphasized that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia could lead to an unprecedented deepening of the conflict in Ukraine, which would constitute a serious threat to international stability.
Russia and North Korea. A new axis of cooperation?
The current situation clearly shows that relations between Russia and North Korea are moving to a new level, from diplomatic support to actual military actions. As Kyodo notes, for Kim Jong Un, the possibility of committing forces on Russian territory is an opportunity to increase North Korea’s prestige on the international arena and strengthen relations with the Kremlin, which may bring economic and political benefits in the face of Pyongyang’s international isolation.
As in the case of other military alliances, cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang carries risks for global security, especially in the context of escalating tensions between Russia and NATO countries.