Russia is purchasing ballistic missiles from North Korea in violation of the UN Security Council arms embargo, and the West must respond in kind by authorizing Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia, independent analyst Colby Badhwar argues. Russia's use of North Korean missiles in Ukraine was exposed by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General in the wake of the New Year attacks. However, it's not despair that's pushing the Kremlin to buy arms from Pyongyang, Badhwar says, but the desire to diversify its weapons sources. As for North Korea, they are only too happy to use Ukraine as a test site.
The past two years have shown that when the United States hesitates, its allies do as well, but when they lead, then they will be followed. It took an American pledge to provide Ukraine with main battle tanks before the Germans would agree to do the same. President Biden must assemble and lead a coalition to respond to Russia's latest escalation. Provision of American long-range missiles, such as 300km M39A1 ATACMS and SLAM-ERs could be joined by German Taurus KEPD 350s and Korean KTSSMs.
Russia has crafted its logistical system around their understanding that Ukraine has very limited long-range strike options and can only use domestically produced ones to strike Russian territory. It was bad enough that Russia's own missiles were safe behind this imaginary shield, but if they are going to acquire North Korean ballistic missiles by flouting a UNSC-imposed arms embargo that Moscow itself voted in support of three times, then the United States, South Korea, and all other states backing Ukraine must take collective action in response. This can be a turning point in the war, one in which the inadequacy of Western support for Ukraine is realized and finally redressed. The opportunity can't be wasted.