TAIPEI, Taiwan – The United States authorized the first use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine for strikes into Russia, media reported, in a response to Russia’s decision to bring North Korean troops into its war on Ukraine.
The U.S. and South Korea said last week that North Korean troops had been fighting against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region. The U.S. estimated more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers had been sent to Kursk and they had begun combat operations alongside Russian forces.
The U.S. weapons are likely to be initially used against Russian and North Korean troops, in defense of Ukrainian forces in Kursk, The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing unidentified American officials.
The newspaper said the decision to allow Ukraine to deploy long-range missiles, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems, was made in response to Russia’s decision to involve North Korean troops in the fight.
The officials noted that although they didn’t believe the permission for Ukraine to use the weapons would significantly impact the direction of the war, one aim was to warn North Korea that their troops are at risk and discourage them from sending more.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang had not responded to the report by the time of publication, but some senior Russian officials warned that Russia’s response would be immediate.
“Strikes with U.S. missiles deep into Russian regions will inevitably entail a serious escalation, which threatens to lead to much more serious consequences,” said Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma lower house’s foreign affairs committee, as cited by TASS state news agency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday more important than lifting the restriction would be the number of missiles used to strike the Russians, without confirming the reports about the U.S. decision.
“Today, many in the media are talking about the fact that we have received permission to take appropriate actions,” said Zelenskyy. “But blows are not inflicted with words. Such things are not announced. The rockets will speak for themselves.”
Biden-Xi talks
The reports about the U.S. decision to let Kyiv strike deep into Russia with long-range U.S. missiles came after U.S. President Joe Biden, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Peru, on Saturday, condemned North Korea’s decision to send its troops to Russia to assist in the war against Ukraine.
“President Biden condemned the deployment of thousands of DPRK troops to Russia, a dangerous expansion of Russia’s unlawful war against Ukraine with serious consequences for both European and Indo-Pacific peace and security,” said the White House in a statement on Monday.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK, is North Korea’s official name.
China, one of North Korea’s few allies, faces pressure to act responsibly as the U.S. and its allies fear North Korean troop deployments could dangerously escalate the Ukraine conflict.
Biden also “expressed deep concern over (China’s) continued support for Russia’s defense industrial base,” according to the White House.
During the meeting, Xi said that China’s position regarding the war had “always been fair and square,” China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
Xi also said China would “not allow conflict and turmoil to happen on the Korean Peninsula” and that it would “not sit idly by” while its strategic interests are endangered, Xinhua added.
North Korean leader’s message
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blamed the U.S. for “staging” a war against Russia using Ukraine as “shock troops”, but did not comment on reports about his country’s deployment of troops to Russia.
“The U.S. and the West have been staging a war against Russia using Ukraine as shock troops in a bid to expand the scope of Washington’s military intervention into the world,” said Kim, as cited by the North’s state-run Korea Central News Agency, or KCNA, on Monday.
Kim made the remark during the 4th Conference of Battalion Commanders and Political Instructors of the Korean People’s Army on Friday.
Kim also said trilateral cooperation by the U.S, South Korea, and Japan was a “critical factor” that threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, calling for bolstering his nuclear forces “without limitation” and completing war preparations.
“U.S.-led military alliance has been expanding into more larger areas encompassing Europe and the Asia-Pacific region,” Kim said.
“We will strengthen our self-defense power, centered on nuclear forces, without limitation, not being content [with our current level] and ceaselessly,” he added.
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Japan on Moscow, Pyongyang
Japan is considering tightening sanctions against North Korea and Russia in response to their military co-operation, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday.
Japan is considering measures such as expanding a freeze on North Korean and Russian assets, as it believes that their military co-operation had “seriously affected” peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and violated international law.
Japan already imposes various sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and missile development, and Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including import and export restrictions and asset freezes.
Tokyo had also decided to coordinate with the G7 countries to strengthen sanctions against Moscow and Pyongyang, the broadcaster added.
Edited by Mike Firn.