Ukraine urges China to play ‘constructive’ role in security after Putin-Kim pact

“The signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and the Russian Federation, which allows Russia to supply high-precision weapons, transfer advanced military technologies and provide other support to North Korea, upsets the security balance … creates additional risks to regional and global security,” Kuleba said in an email interview with This Week In Asia last week.

“We also hope that the People’s Republic of China will play a constructive role in overcoming the challenges to regional and global security that are increasing as Russia and North Korea expand their military cooperation,” Kuleba said.

China has said it is neutral in the war between Ukraine and Russia. However, Beijing has faced criticism from some countries – notably the United States and its allies – for failing to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and provide economic support to Russia amid international sanctions against Moscow.

In response to the treaty signing, the US last month warned Pyongyang not to join Russian troops in Ukraine, with Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder saying North Korean troops would become “cannon fodder” on the battlefield.

According to Kuleba, there have been no confirmed sightings of North Korean troops on Ukrainian soil so far.

“At this point, we have no confirmed information that the DPRK has taken practical steps in this regard. But we continue to monitor the situation together with our partners,” Kuleba added.

Nevertheless, North Korea has supplied at least “2.6 million artillery shells and up to 60 ballistic missiles” that have been used by Russia in the bombing of Ukraine, Kuleba said.

“Although the quality of North Korean weapons is generally quite low with a high failure rate, they still give Russian troops an artillery advantage on the battlefield. That is indeed a concern for us,” Kuleba said.

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Ukraine war two years later: disease, displacement and demand for help

Ukraine war two years later: disease, displacement and demand for help

With Russian forces wreaking more death and destruction in Ukraine, North Korea may feel emboldened to question the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia, Kuleba said.

“We must tackle these threats together and treat them as one global challenge. Every bit of support for Ukraine today is an investment in the stability of Asia,” he added.

According to various media reports, North Korea could send a large number of engineering and construction troops to help Russia carry out “reconstruction work” in occupied cities in Ukraine after the signing of the treaty.

TV Chosun reported, citing a South Korean government official, that North Korean military forces were involved in the heavily bombed Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

In an interview with Espreso TV in June, Ukrainian Major Yehor Checherynda said that during the Korean War, tunneling was done on a large scale. Engineers dug barracks and control centers up to 100 meters deep, making them impenetrable to American air raids.

“Unfortunately, the (North) Koreans have experience in this area and the Ukrainian armed forces should take this into account to prevent such operations on Ukrainian territory,” Checherynda was quoted as saying.

According to Kuleba, Russia is recruiting mercenaries from many countries in an attempt to break through the front lines and penetrate deeper into Ukrainian territory.

Quoting Ukrainian data, Kuleba said Russia had deployed recruits from Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, India, Nepal and Cuba.

Many of the mercenaries were “tricked” into fighting the Russian army, as evidenced by their testimonies after being captured as prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces, he added.

“I take this opportunity to warn all people in different countries never to trust Russian offers. Russia does not value human lives at all. They promise something, but you can get hurt or killed on Ukrainian soil. Don’t become cannon fodder for Russia,” Kuleba said.

The Secretary of State also gave a speech during the US presidential election, saying that Ukraine continued to enjoy bipartisan support for the third year in a row after the Russian invasion.

Kuleba’s comments came before US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on Sunday. Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee against former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump in the November election.

“We are convinced that it is in the strategic interest of the United States to support Ukraine and enable Ukrainians to defeat Russian aggression and terror,” Kuleba said.

“It is solely up to the American people to decide who will be the next president of the United States. We are in contact with both parties and we know that both American presidential candidates are very aware that the Americans want to support Ukraine.”