Macron Warns China: Keep North Korea Out of Ukraine War to Avoid NATO Involvement in Asia

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a clear message at the Defense Summit in Singapore, warning that NATO could become more deeply involved in Asia if China does not act to prevent North Korea’s participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to Macron, North Korea’s presence in Ukraine poses a ‘serious issue for all of us.’ He emphasized that if China wants to avoid NATO’s involvement in Southeast Asia, it must ensure North Korea stays out of European conflicts. France has long advocated that NATO should not extend its influence into Asia and led efforts to block the establishment of a NATO liaison office in Japan in 2023. ‘I expressed my opposition to NATO’s role in Asia because I do not believe we should get involved in other strategic rivalries,’ said Macron, hinting that France might reconsider its stance. The involvement of North Korean troops in Russian military operations against Ukraine occurs under a military alliance with Moscow, where Pyongyang’s soldiers are used to attempt to drive Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.