North Korea & Russia: A Dangerous Reunion

Unlike most foreign fighters in Russia’s war against Ukraine, North Korean soldiers deploy under official state authority rather than as individual mercenaries. This distinction marks a notable shift in Moscow–Pyongyang relations and reflects a rare, formalized wartime partnership between two heavily sanctioned regimes.

In this lecture, Eugene Chu situates North Korea’s involvement within its Cold War legacy and modern strategic calculus. Drawing on 20th-century history, he explains how Soviet-era ties differ from today’s relationship with Russia. We will examine how combat experience gained in Ukraine may reshape North Korea’s military doctrine and what this means for security on the Korean Peninsula. As Russia exports battlefield lessons and North Korea supplies manpower, this partnership raises urgent questions about escalation, deterrence, and power dynamics in Northeast Asia.

Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be provided.
RSVP is recommended, and donations welcomed.

Eugene Chu is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve with more than 23 years of combined service. His assignments included overseas postings in South Korea, Iraq, and Poland. Following his military retirement, he served as an authority coordinator for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a graduate degree in business from Texas Christian University, with academic coursework in Chinese history, international business law, and Russian foreign policy. His professional and personal experience includes travel to Europe, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He remains actively engaged in advocacy for Ukraine, including participation in Ukraine Action Summits in Washington, D.C., and the study of the Ukrainian language.

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