The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated. In June, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a treaty in Pyongyang.

The treaty was a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” which means that if a country is invaded, the other country has an obligation to fight for them. Because Ukraine previously hadn’t invaded Russia, North Korea had no grounds to fight.

Ukraine invaded Kursk in August which means that North Korea now has an opportunity to become engaged in the war. Last week, Russia and North Korea finalized the treaty, enabling North Korea’s assistance. 

As of now, about 10,000 North Korean troops are in Russia helping to fight off the Ukrainians. Most of the North Korean soldiers are in special forces units, but have not rendered particularly useful in battle. The majority of these soldiers are under trained and not heavily armed.

Kim Jong Un has declared Russia as the country’s top foreign policy priority. Russia has begun to pay for the production of North Korea weapons and factories in relation to the war and Kim Jong Un has requested the production to be rapidly increased. 

Kim Jong Un now argues that the road is being paved for a second Cold War. Un has been reported saying that “the existence of sovereign states and the right to existence of their people are seriously threatened by the reactionary imperialist forces.”