Incentive for NATO forces: How the West can respond to Putin's involvement of North Korea in the conflict.

In his traditional video address on Sunday, October 20, President Zelensky identified a new threat as the "criminal alliance of Russia and North Korea" and simultaneously thanked the leaders and representatives of nations "who do not turn a blind eye and speak frankly about this cooperation for the sake of a greater war." The head of state specifically emphasized that the instability and threats could significantly increase after North Korean soldiers begin training in the art of modern warfare.

"We currently have clear data indicating that people are being sent to Russia from North Korea, and these are no longer just workers for factories, but also military personnel. We are expecting a normal, honest, and strong reaction from our partners regarding this. In fact, this is the entry of yet another state into the war against Ukraine. Everyone has the opportunity to see the evidence, thanks to satellites and videos that are already coming from Russia," Zelensky emphasized.

It is worth noting that in June of this year, Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a treaty on "comprehensive strategic partnership," which provides for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against Moscow and Pyongyang, respectively.

Meanwhile, the United States expressed "concern" over information regarding the dispatch of North Korean soldiers to participate in the Russian-Ukrainian war. According to White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savetti, if the data about the direct involvement of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine is confirmed, "this step would indicate a new level of desperation from Russia, which continues to suffer significant losses on the battlefield in its brutal war against Ukraine." The American Security Council representative did not mention any practical measures from Washington regarding Russia or North Korea. However, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that it summoned the Russian ambassador to Seoul, Georgy Zinoviev, "in protest" against the dispatch of North Korean troops to the country for further deployment in Ukraine.

Putin, as quoted by Russian media, calls the statements about the participation of North Korean military in the "special military operation" "nonsense," and his spokesman Peskov considers the relevant information to be "another duck." In Pyongyang, however, they are not commenting on the statements regarding the involvement of their troops in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

How American Escalation Management Policy Failed

Zelensky's call for a "honest and strong" stance from allies is seen by experts as a clear hint that the "escalation management policy" has failed miserably, as Ukraine is effectively fighting not only against Russia but also against Iran and North Korea.

"Therefore, the Ukrainian president is sending a signal that if allies had doubts that we are already in the Third World War, now is the time to dispel them completely, because we have bad news for them: such a war is already in full swing," emphasizes Taras Zaharodniy.

When asked what a "honest and strong" reaction from key Western allies, particularly the United States, should be, the political scientist responded as follows: "For starters, we need to hit Iran at the very least. We must clearly show who is in charge and not pretend that the Houthis, who are currently attacking tankers and preventing trade vessels from passing through the Red Sea, got their weapons from nowhere and that Tehran is not involved. Also, of course, a tougher stance is needed regarding North Korea, because Pyongyang still has access to external markets. Furthermore, harsher sanctions against Russia must be implemented, which, by the way, still has not been recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism with all the ensuing consequences."

Emphasizing that everyone is now waiting for the results of the presidential elections in the United States, Taras Zaharodniy stated: "Americans will not do anything serious before the elections. The only thing that could spoil the picture for them is Israel, which might strike Iran, raising global oil prices, and then Kamala Harris might only dream of the White House. However, if the current Vice President of the United States wins in the fierce 2024 elections, regarding Ukraine, most likely, nothing significant will change."

However, under Trump, the political scientist is convinced there could indeed be changes. "Donald Trump will definitely lift all restrictions on the export of oil and gas from the United States and Canada, which means Tehran and Moscow will face serious problems with selling their black gold. Thus, China's economy will begin to "tear apart," and that is where serious processes will begin that could play in our favor in the war with Russia," concludes Taras Zaharodniy.

Is the Involvement of Allied Troops Necessary?

The expert also points out that the "North Korea factor" should serve as an incentive to attract allied troops to Ukraine's side: "The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has repeatedly spoken about attracting NATO troops, and I believe his idea is absolutely correct, considering that we are fighting not only for our state but also for the freedom of other countries in the free world. It is evident that if Russia attracts foreign troops in numbers that will be measured in thousands or tens of thousands, Ukraine will not cope without the involvement of limited contingents of allies in favor of our state."

Emphasizing that the Russian-Ukrainian war has all the signs of a global conflict, rather than a local or regional one "as some still believe," Stanislav Zhelikhovsky noted: "In my opinion, the ice is gradually breaking. Just on Saturday, October 19, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that he could not confirm the information that North Korea had sent troops to Russia to participate in combat actions in Ukraine. Now we see that he (Austin - ed.) arrived in Ukraine and, I am convinced, he will receive all the necessary information firsthand, although ideally American intelligence should have already known this."

Regardless, after providing the relevant materials, Kyiv, according to the expert, may demand what "we have not received before, including in the context of long-range artillery and its use." "This could help level the asymmetry that currently exists, but again, we should not abandon Macron's idea. Everyone should understand that when another country enters the war, especially one that plans to develop nuclear weapons and constantly threatens Japan and South Korea, the problem is not just dangerous — it is explosive."

In a situation where North Korean troops are already effectively fighting in the heart of Europe, the West, according to Stanislav Zhelikhovsky, must literally "change the paradigm of thinking, approaches, and actions" in an urgent manner, and the most active should be the member states of the North Atlantic Alliance.