U.S. calls on China to stop North Korean troops from helping Russia

By Jordan Pagkalinawan

Following reports that over 8,000 North Korean troops are joining Russia’s fight against Ukraine, the Biden administration is urging China to prevent further escalation. An anonymous State Department official told the Associated Press three top U.S. diplomats met with China’s ambassador to the United States earlier this week, where those concerns were addressed. The officials believe China can curb the situation with their longtime ties to North Korea.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at a news conference alongside Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Blinken said the United States and China had “robust conversations” earlier this week, adding: “I think this is a demand signal that’s coming not just from us, but from countries around the world.”

Austin issued a stern warning to North Korean troops that were deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, saying, “Make no mistake. If these North Korean troops engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine, they would make themselves legitimate military targets.”

The urging comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized allies for a lack of a response to North Korean involvement, which he warned of on Oct. 13.

“Putin is checking the reaction of the West … And I believe that after all these reactions, Putin will decide and increase the contingent … The reaction that is there today is nothing, it is zero,” Zelenskiy said in an interview with South Korean TV channel KBS. 

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., released a statement saying China’s position on the matter is “consistent and clear.”

“China is committed to peaceful negotiations and a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. This position remains unchanged. China will continue to play a constructive role in this direction,” Pengyu said.

President Biden has not commented on the North Korean troops’ arrival into Russia, though he said Tuesday that Ukraine should strike back if those troops cross the Russia-Ukraine border, according to Reuters.