After more than three years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is it about to stir up a big commotion again? That is, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov made a sudden visit to North Korea and delivered a meaningful statement. Behind this statement, there may be an indication that a new military campaign is about to begin. That is, the North Korean army may appear on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine.

According to reports, Lavrov said in North Korea that if Pyongyang is willing to send more troops, we have no reason to reject this sincere act of solidarity. This sounds very polite, but the meaning is clear. Russia does not object to North Korea sending troops and is actually pleased with it. More importantly, he also said that the North Korean people will decide for themselves how to fulfill the Russia-North Korea strategic partnership agreement. What does this mean? It means that Russia has handed over the decision-making power to North Korea, and at the same time, it has laid the groundwork for future actions. In the future, as long as North Korea is willing, Russia will open its arms to welcome them.

North Korea's response was even more direct. Kim Jong-un himself stated that North Korea will unconditionally support all actions Russia takes in Ukraine. Obviously, this is not just ordinary diplomatic language, but a strong signal that North Korea is willing to fully commit itself whenever Russia needs it.

At the same time, South Korea and Ukraine have also released intelligence recently, claiming that North Korea is preparing to send troops again. The scale this time will be larger, possibly sending 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers, and they may directly enter the eastern battlefield of Ukraine. Although there is a new report stating that Ukraine denied this intelligence, it still makes people suspect whether Kyiv is hiding something.

In short, if this intelligence is confirmed, it would not be just general support. If North Korea really sends several thousand soldiers to eastern Ukraine, it would be a heavy blow for Ukraine. Why is that so? Because the current Russia-Ukraine battlefield has entered a stalemate, and the Ukrainian defense line is constantly under pressure. Meanwhile, Russia is preparing a major counterattack and needs a large number of troops to break through.

Especially in the four areas of eastern Ukraine, Ukraine is already struggling to hold all positions. If North Korean forces join, they could become the key force that overwhelms the Ukrainian army. Don't forget, although the North Korean forces have average technical equipment, their personnel have strong will, discipline, and strong endurance, and their combat style is very tough.

However, one issue deserves attention: is North Korea really brave enough to send its troops to eastern Ukraine? From the current signs, the possibility is high. North Korea has long publicly acknowledged that the four areas in eastern Ukraine belong to Russia, and they do not consider it "sending troops to another country" from a legal perspective. In their view, it is merely a "just action to defend the territorial integrity of Russia."

Moreover, when Kim Jong-un expressed his position to Lavrov, he explicitly mentioned this point. He said that North Korea supports Russia in defending "national sovereignty and territorial integrity," which means that he has already prepared public opinion and moral grounds. If they really send troops, North Korea can explain it to the domestic audience.

As for whether the international community will condemn it? North Korea obviously doesn't care. To them, they have already been sanctioned to the bottom by the West and have nothing left to lose. Will this become the last straw that breaks the camel's back for Ukraine? No one can say for sure. However, one thing is certain: the four provinces in eastern Ukraine are facing an unprecedented battle.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7527100302022033920/

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