Top Senate Democrat warns North Korean troops in Russia is ‘dangerous escalation’ of Ukraine war

North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to Russia is a “deeply disturbing and dangerous escalation” of President Vladimir Putin’s war against neighboring Ukraine, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Friday.

Sen. Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat, said North Korea’s ongoing support of Russia’s war efforts demonstrates leader Kim Jong Un’s reckless disregard for international law and neglect of his people.

“By turning to those like Kim for help on the battlefield, Putin has not only revealed his growing desperation fighting Ukraine’s forces on the ground but also has reinforced his willingness to partner with the world’s most oppressive dictators and intensity an already volatile conflict,” Mr. Cardin said Friday in a statement. 

Analysts have suggested that Russia could help North Korea advance its nuclear programs in return for its deployment of troops. The White House said that any North Korean military personnel on the battlefield could be targeted as belligerents in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Mr. Cardin said Pyongyang’s relentless pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programs demonstrates both a reckless disregard for international law and a blatant neglect of its people “who remain trapped in extreme poverty and subjected to grievous human rights abuses.”

“Clearly, there is no depth to which the Kremlin will not sink to achieve its goal of victory, even if that means working with rogue states and brutal despots,” he said.

North Korea’s deployment of about 3,000 troops to Russia is a confirmation of a growing connection between security concerns in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, Mr. Cardin said.

“The United States remains unwavering in our ongoing commitment to the safety and security of our partners and allies across the region,” he said. “Together, we will help ensure Russia’s strategic defeat in Ukraine.”