This is why the Pentagon "overlooked" North Korea's troop deployment for the war in Ukraine - Alexander Kovalenko.

The National Intelligence Service of South Korea has released satellite images indicating the transfer of North Korean troops to Russia. North Korea is prepared to send approximately 12,000 soldiers to the Russian Federation, with 1,500 of them verified near Vladivostok.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense stated that he cannot confirm reports that North Korea has dispatched troops to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine…

What?

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, nearing the end of his term, seems to be embroiled in numerous controversies. The memory of his statement "Do not strike at Russian refineries" still lingers, alongside his current deliberate denial of the obvious. Does he wish to retire without bearing the burden of responsibility for making tough, yet correct decisions?

The weight of responsibility for sometimes failing to make the right decision can often be much heavier than that of unpopular, yet correct choices. Clearly, for the White House and the Pentagon, it is more important to navigate the domestic political cycle from 2024 to 2025, passing the responsibility to the next administration.

A similar domestic political situation occurred from late 2023 to early 2024 when Ukraine faced the first wave of a major offensive by Russian occupiers without assistance from the U.S.

The modern Western world has become too entangled in politics, with a thick froth of tolerance and exaggerated deliberation in its actions. At times, it seems to be simply apathetic. Dictatorships only understand the language of power. When they hear hesitant, indecisive murmurs, they strike.

Meanwhile, in the Western world, decisive statements are mostly made by those who do not make final decisions. Yet, strangely enough, unlike the U.S., they find themselves in a zone of heightened risk.