NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Gerry Connolly believes that Russia's weakness is that dictator Vladimir Putin wants to send North Korean soldiers to war in Ukraine.
Gerry Connolly stated this in an interview with Radio Liberty.
Participation of DPRK troops in the war in Ukraine
According to the NATO PA President, the North Koreans now want to gain combat experience. The DPRK army is one of the largest in the world, but it has no combat experience at all. The North Koreans last fought during the Korean War (1950-1953). And that's been more than 70 years, and there are no soldiers left from that war.
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— To gain combat experience — where can you go for it if you are North Korea? Well, the Russians invited them to fight in Ukraine. I think there are clear goals that the North Koreans are setting for themselves, — says Gerry Connolly.
He says the North Koreans' involvement in the war in Ukraine demonstrates a certain weakness in Russia because, frankly, Russia's potential is exhausted.
— Russian casualties are estimated at 600,000 killed, wounded and missing. These figures are already approaching the levels of World War II in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa after 1941. I think this is not so much a cause for concern as a reason to look at — what does this say about the modern Russian army? — Gerry Connolly noted.
US Levers of Influence on North Korea
NATO PA President Connolly believes that the US has no leverage over North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
— Well, Donald Trump can meet with Kim Jong-un again and tell him how great he is and exchange love letters. But, of course, this will not have any effect on the behavior of the North Koreans. North Korea will do whatever it wants, Connolly noted.
According to him, during the Korean War, Russia was North Korea's main partner, and now it is the DPRK that supplies the Russians with weapons and troops.
The same applies to China. For example, Chinese leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai and their associates were trained in Moscow. And it was Russia that gave weapons to the Chinese revolutionaries who eventually seized power in China, says Gerry Connolly.
And now Russia is very much hoping for help from China.
— This is also a sign of how Vladimir Putin's influence has diminished and vulnerability has grown. The fact that he must turn to these countries to continue his terrible war in Ukraine says a lot, summed up Gerry Connolly.
Recall that the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, announced that as early as November 1, 11,000 soldiers from North Korea will be ready to fight against Ukraine on the side of the Russians.
