The presence of North Korean troops in the Ukraine war will not force NATO to send its forces for defense, but it could prompt partners to lift restrictions on long-range strikes against Russia.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by retired British Army Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.

He believes that North Korea's decision to send military personnel makes it a participant in a large-scale war against Ukraine:

"Will this encourage NATO to deploy ground forces? I think that’s unlikely at this point."

The analyst suggests that in response, NATO member countries may allow the Ukrainian army to attack Russian territory with Western long-range weapons:

"If North Korea’s troop deployment doesn’t compel the West to give President Zelensky the green light to strike Russia, then I don’t know what will."