Putin's New Front: Asia

October 21, 2024

Putin’s war widens significantly now that North Korea has put boots on the ground in Ukraine. This is the first time another foreign government has joined Russia’s attempt to conquer its former colony, and it means that two nations have now invaded Ukraine. Reports are that Korean military advisors have been in Ukraine for months involved in the deployment of their missiles; some have died in bombing raids, and another 10,000 ground troops are rumored to be training in Russia’s Far East to fight in Ukraine. There is also talk that the war may further widen because NATO’s Britain and France are planning to put boots on the ground in Ukraine to help train its forces. As both sides escalate, North Korea’s invasion of Ukraine also represents a third front in Asia as part of Putin’s worldwide war. His ally, Iran, opened the second front in the Middle East by attacking Israel on Putin’s birthday, October 7. And now, his other ally, North Korea, attacks Ukraine and re-opens old wounds and new fears in East Asia.