With 8,000 North Korean soldiers set to join Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, the U.S. is engaging with China to utilize its connections with both Moscow and Pyongyang in order to discourage the arrival of these North Korean troops.

This week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that there was a “substantial discussion” with China regarding the deployment of these North Korean forces to Russia. He spoke after a joint news briefing alongside Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and their South Korean colleagues on Thursday.

He mentioned that he believes they are well aware of our concerns and expectations, and that they should utilize their influence to address these issues through both words and actions.

Blinken also noted that what North Korea might gain from Russia in exchange for the troops is something China should genuinely worry about.

The Pentagon announced on Monday that there are currently 10,000 troops participating in training exercises at military installations located in the far eastern part of Russia.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described this situation as a “dangerous expansion” of the conflict in Ukraine, indicating an escalation in North Korea’s involvement and asserting it as a breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“The increasing military collaboration between Russia and North Korea poses a danger to security in both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions,” he stated.

China challenges U.S. by strengthening ties with Russia and North Korea

China has dismissed U.S. requests to denounce Russia’s invasion.

In Ukraine, Russia has increasingly turned to China for trade as U.S. and other sanctions have cut it off from the global market.

During a visit in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to strengthen relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing indifference towards the U.S., especially after Blinken’s recent diplomatic trip to Beijing. Xi also participated in the BRICS summit held in Russia last week.

China has kept friendly relations with North Korea despite its growing isolation over time.

However, North Korea’s frequent missile tests can create tension for its northern neighbor. In 2017, China denounced one of North Korea’s missile test launches.

and supported multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that increased economic pressure on North Korea during the same year, escalating tensions between the two nations, as noted in a report by the Brookings Institution.

However, their relationship has improved over the years. In 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a covert visit to Beijing, followed by a trip from Chinese President Xi Jinping to North Korea.In 2019, a Chinese leader made a visit to South Korea for the first time in 14 years. Currently, over 90% of North Korea’s trade is with China, and the two nations have reaffirmed their alliance by renewing a treaty originally established in 1961.