The Biden administration is sounding the alarm over Russia’s escalating military partnership with North Korea, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin labeling the move a sign of desperation on the part of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking at a recent Pentagon press conference alongside his South Korean counterpart, Austin expressed concern that Putin is resorting to pariah states like North Korea for military aid. “Putin has lost a significant number of troops in Ukraine, and instead of mobilizing, he’s turning to other countries for help,” Austin said. “This is not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness.”
According to U.S. intelligence estimates, Russia is losing upwards of 1,000 troops per day in Ukraine, and North Korea’s deployment of 10,000 or more reinforcements may only provide a temporary boost, lasting around 10 days. However, the move has significant implications for regional stability and could lead to a broader conflict.
Austin emphasized that the U.S. takes the security implications of this development very seriously. “We fully understand the security implications, and we are taking steps to address them,” he said.
The Pentagon is particularly concerned about the potential for foreign troops to fight on behalf of Russia, which could widen the conflict and prompt other countries to take sides. However, the bigger worry is what North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hopes to gain from Putin in return for his military support.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby expressed concern that Kim Jong Un is seeking more than just gratitude from Putin. “This development is concerning, and until we have a better sense of what the North Koreans believe they are getting out of this, it’s hard to know the full impact,” Kirby said.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun downplayed the risk of imminent war with North Korea but voiced concerns that Russia could help North Korea upgrade its nuclear arsenal in exchange for military support. “There is a high possibility that North Korea would ask for cutting-edge technology, including nuclear technology, in exchange for their troops’ deployment,” Kim said.
Experts warn that a North Korea with a more robust nuclear arsenal would not be in China’s interest either. China has a tenuous relationship with North Korea and uses it as a buffer to the U.S. and its allies in the region.
The U.S. has been reaching out to China to see if it is willing to intervene in some way, but Beijing’s response has been lukewarm. “We have been making clear to China that they have an influential voice in the region and should be concerned about steps that Russia has taken to undermine stability,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Despite the concerns, some experts believe that the North Korean move is a play to both Russia and China. “Kim is not stupid, he knows Putin needs both ammunition and troops, so why not exact a higher price for that, which is to try to ask for higher-end military technology?” said Victor Cha, a Korea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The development has also sparked debate over the U.S. approach to China and Ukraine. Former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, has argued that the U.S. should stop supporting Ukraine and focus on China. However, former Trump national security adviser and retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster has warned against pivoting away from Europe and the Middle East based on a myopic view of the competition with China.
McMaster identified the four countries that have coalesced into an “Axis of Aggressors” – China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. “Recognizing the nature of the competition with these countries is vital if we are to restore peace and prevent conflicts from cascading further,” he warned.
