Posted on 10/24/2024 9:35:41 AM PDT by marcusmaximus
-snip-
Belarus has played a part in Russia’s war. In February 2022 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched, partly, from Belarusian territory.
Why did the country’s leader allow the Kremlin to do that?
“How do you know I gave permission for Belarusian territory to be used?” Lukashenko asks me.
“Because Belarusian territory was used [for the invasion].”
“There were exercises going on involving several thousand Russian soldiers.
Putin started withdrawing these troops from where they were in southern Belarus, down a road, along the border with Ukraine.
"At one point he redirected some of these troops to Kyiv. I’m sure they’d been provoked. It’s up to Putin how he withdraws his troops. Via Kyiv. Or he could have gone through Minsk.”
“Didn’t you call Putin to ask what was going on?” I ask.
“No. He didn’t call me. And I didn’t call him. These are his troops and he has the right to move them out whichever way he likes.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Oops correction: North Korean, not Russian troops inside Ukraine.
These troops and their officers haver experienced combat. The ones who don't die will be better prepared for future missions.
The South Koreans are fine with masses of North Korean soldiers goose stepping around in big plazas in NK. But the S. Koreans really DON’T want North Korean units getting battlefield experience in a modern (well, mostly modern) war. Recall that the Korean War never actually ended (esp. from the perspective of North Korea.)
There is also the issue of what is NK getting in return?
IIRC, SK intends to be the 4th biggest arms exporter on Earth by 2027, and at the rate they are going, one would have to think they will hit that target. They are also working closely with Poland. This is in addition to their own defense procurements.
This is what happens when the US backs out of or fails to meet its obligations, or fails to lead. The South Koreans reasonably fear they cannot depend on the US, so they are taking matters into their own hands*, well aware of how things went when China sent 1 million troops across the border, and the US forces in Korea were modest.
*That might sound great, to relieve the burden on the US, but then you end up with a world full of heavily armed, fearful if not antagonistic nations, and unstable alliances. IMO, many countries will eventually obtain nukes in quantity. Either way, that world WILL blow, the only question is the timing and the trigger.
Anyway, while I agree this is hardly something that would itself start WW3, it might move the pieces a tad closer together.
If the US had come out with this first, I’d question it. But, that’s not what happened, and I just don’t see an upside to S. Korea to fabricate the intel. Nor is S. Korea speaking in terms of “USA, please help us.” They are speaking in terms that SK must respond.
I agree with you, in as far as you are willing to go.
I go farther. Biden and Harris and Blinken are stooges, among many more. Ursula von der Leyen and Josef Borrell are stooges, among many more. Zelensky, Budanov and Tymoshenko are stooges among many more. The Obamas, Clintons and more are stooges.
Vote Trump in 2024 to topple the Democrats, and have a shot at shrinking the overly expensive and overly large administrative state.
The part about Lukashenko & Pooty’s troops’ route out of Belarus would be comical if so many people had not died in this war. Lukie is truly Pooty’s toadie...
The real issue to the S. Koreans is N. Korean troops getting combat experience of this sort. The issue of whether the N. Koreans are in Kursk or in, say, Donbass, is pretty much irrelevant.
Perhaps in that regard, it is irrelevant to the South Koreans.
There *is* a true difference though: if they stay in Russia, no biggie. If they enter Ukraine, they become an official co-belligerent alongside Russia against Ukraine (and its US/NATO backers).
The main thing going on here at the moment is this: whipping up an “oh horrors!” response. Zelensky is trying every way he can to get NATO boots on the ground. This is just another angle. It worked on this idiot congresscritter:
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4273125/posts
Even some Freepers are clutching pearls over this. 🙄 Oh noes! Evil Norkies are in Russia! They are going to invade Ukraine!!!
The South Koreans of course love to point out how evil Norkies are — now they are going to join evil Russians beating up on poor innocent democratic angelic Ukraine!!!
Keep those American dollars and military aid flowing!
Of course the Biden administration would like South Korea to send military aid directly to Ukraine, which so far they have not done (although Ukraine has received munitions manufactured in South Korea through third countries), only sending humanitarian aid until now. South Korea now says it will send military aid to Ukraine if Norkies go fight there.
And of course the Dems and neocons want to gin up support for the war here at home, especially with the election so near. No! Don’t vote for Trump! Russia-Russia-Russia!!! Now with a side of Norkie-Norkie-Norkie!!!
And still there is proof this handful of NK soldiers will ever set foot in Ukraine.
Malnourished N. Korean troops!
Good luck with them.
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