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North Korean troops have been hit by Ukraine’s army for the first time since they entered the war on Russia’s side, Kyiv has said.
Andriy Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine’s national security council, reported that the incident took place in Russia’s western Kursk region. Ukrainian forces have held parts of this area since their unexpected cross-border operation in August.
“The initial North Korean troops have already encountered fire in the Kursk region,” Kovalenko said, though he did not provide additional details.
His remarks are likely to heighten concerns that North Korea’s involvement could draw other nations into the conflict, which has already become Europe’s largest war since 1945.
Pyongyang has vowed to back Russia until it achieves victory over Ukraine. “Our traditional, historically friendly relations, which have traveled the tested path of history, today … are rising to a new level of relations of invincible military comradeship,” the North’s foreign minister Choe Son Hui said during her trip to Moscow last week.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken confirmed there are 10,000 North Koreans already in Russia, including as many as 8,000 in the Kursk region.
Putin meets North Korean foreign minister in Moscow
Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly held a meeting in Russia’s capital with North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui, the state news agency TASS reported.
Another agency, Interfax, said the meeting in Moscow took place on Monday.
Choe travelled to Russia last week for her second trip in six weeks, at a time of mounting alarm in the West over military cooperation between the two countries.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 15:09
UK becomes president of the UN Security Council
UK is now president of the UN Security Council
The UK has become the president of the UN’s Security Council.
It is a rotating position that the UK will hold until the end of November. It was held by Denmark in October and will be taken over by the United States in December.
The UK’s permanent ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, spoke on the role of president.
“Putin will not stop at Ukraine. We can be sure that Iran and North Korea are exacting a heavy price from Russia for their support.
“Where there is death and chaos, President Putin’s hand is rarely far behind.”
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 14:40
Ukraine says it tries to repel drone attack on Kyiv
Ukraine’s air defence units were trying to repel a Russian drone attack on Kyiv, the military administration said on Monday.
“Stay in shelters!” Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app.
Reuters witnesses heard explosions in Kyiv in what sounded like air defence units in operation.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 14:20
Ukraine facing ‘one of the most powerful Russian offensives’ since the start of the war
Ukraine’s army chief has warned that his forces are up against “one of the most intense Russian offensives” since the war began, as Russia announced the capture of additional settlements along the eastern frontline.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said the situation on the front line “remains difficult” and certain areas “require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units” in a statement on Telegram Saturday morning.
Kyiv’s forces, he said, are “holding back one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.”
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 14:00
Abortion, Israel, crime: Where does Kamala Harris stand on key issues?
Vice President Kamala Harris has run a presidential campaign on policies intended to appeal to a broad scope of Americans, especially those looking for an alternative to Donald Trump.
Though Harris has spent the last four years in the White House, her role as VP has largely centred around supporting the Biden administration’s initiatives. Having only entered the race in July after President Joe Biden was pushed out, Harris has only had a few months to make her agenda clear.
Once known for progressive liberal policies, Harris has adopted more moderate ideas to appeal to a broader group of Americans. That includes a tougher position on immigration and championing the Second Amendment while still advocating for gun control legislation.
Here’s where she stands on the issues.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 13:24
Russian drone attack sparks park fire in Ukraine’s Kyiv, mayor says
Debris from destroyed Russian drones sparked park and grass fires in Kyiv, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital said on Monday.
The drone wreckage caused a fire in the Muromets park in the Desnianskyi district in Kyiv’s northeast and set some grass ablaze on the embankment of the Dnipro River across from the park.
There was no immediate information about potential injuries.
The strikes followed Russian attacks on Sunday that damaged buildings and power lines in Kyiv.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 12:50
Ukraine’s military says it shot down 50 Russian drones overnight
Ukraine‘s military said on Monday it shot down 50 out of 80 Russian drones during overnight attack.
The air force said 27 more drones were “locationally lost” in various regions, likely referring to the impact of electronic warfare.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 12:35
Three killed after residential building in Kharkiv hit
Last night three people were killed after a residential building in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv was hit, regional police said on Monday.
Russian forces used an aerial bomb to carry out the attack, which damaged houses and a medical facility, the police said on the Telegram messenger app.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 12:27
EU chief visits Seoul amid alarm over North Korean troops in Russia
The EU’s chief has visited South Korea as concern grows over the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that the reports signal the need for security cooperation between the European Union and South Korea.
The deployment “regrettably illustrates the importance of our shared security agenda,” he said before talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Seoul. The EU and South Korea are holding their first Strategic Dialogue meeting after Washington and Seoul sounded the alarm about North Korea sending troops to help Russia.
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 12:19
Zelensky congratulates Moldova’s Sandu on election win
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Moldova‘s Maia Sandu on her election win in a social media post on Monday.
“Moldovans have made a clear choice” they chose a path toward economic growth and social stability,” Zelensky wrote on X after pro-Western incumbent Sandu claimed victory at Sunday’s closely-fought presidential election.
Congratulations to @sandumaiamd on winning the presidential election in Moldova. Ukraine supports the European choice of the Moldovan people and stands ready to work together to strengthen our partnership.
Moldovans have made a clear choice—they chose a path toward economic…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 4, 2024
Rachel Hagan4 November 2024 12:15
