The US and NATO should allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia in response to North Korean troop deployment, says US Congressman Mike Turner, according to Voice of America.
Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, North Korea has supplied Moscow with at least 11,000 containers of ammunition, including approximately two million artillery rounds since 2023. Additionally, South Korea’s intelligence reports say Pyongyang has sent 3,000 troops to Russia, with plans to deploy 10,000 by December. The Ukrainian military says the first North Korean units, after training at Russia’s eastern grounds, have already arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast combat zone.
To tackle the threat, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Mike Turner, stated that the US and other NATO countries should give Ukraine the capability to strike targets deep within Russia in response to North Korea sending troops to support the occupiers.
Turner also advocates for “direct attacks on North Korean troops” if they are detected on Ukrainian territory.
“Currently, the US maintains a policy whereby Ukraine is not allowed to use NATO and US-supplied weapons to strike legitimate military targets within Russia. For example, if Russia uses a military system to attack Ukraine from Russian territory, Ukraine cannot respond with US or local systems to target that system,” Turner noted.
He added that the US administration currently views potential Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory as a “provocation.” In contrast, Turner argues that “Russia’s initial attack should be seen as the provocation.” He previously stated that North Korean troop involvement in the war against Ukraine should be a “red line” for NATO and the US.
Turner emphasized that Ukraine’s allies should not rule out an attack on North Korean soldiers if they are actively deployed in the war.
“I believe that the US and NATO allies should seriously discuss and consider targeting North Korean forces if they are present in Ukraine,” said the official.
North Korean troops have no place in Europe, nor should they be attacking a European country, Turner added.
The congressman also stressed that it is in NATO’s interest to prevent Asian, particularly North Korean communist, troops from marching across Europe.
Related:
- Pentagon: No restrictions on US weapons use against North Korean forces
- South Korean intelligence confirms North Korean troops moved to Russian front lines
- Lithuania demands stronger NATO response to North Korean-Russian cooperation
- South Korea to send delegation to Ukraine this week over North Korean troop presence
- New research estimates North Korean arms supplies to Russia at $5.5 billion
