**North Korea's Kim Criticizes US and West Over Ukraine Conflict**

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sharply criticized the United States and Western countries, accusing them of using Ukrainian forces as "shock troops" in the battle against Russia, according to state media reports on Monday. This statement follows allegations by Seoul and Washington that North Korea has dispatched over 10,000 soldiers to assist Russia in the Ukraine conflict.

Seoul and Washington have suggested that North Korea, motivated by the desire for advanced Russian technology and combat experience for its troops, might be supporting Russia's war effort. However, Kim has categorically denied such deployments and did not address these claims in his recent speech to battalion commanders, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency.

In his address, Kim accused the US and its allies of exploiting the Ukraine conflict to broaden their military interventions globally. He warned that Washington's ongoing military support to Ukraine could escalate tensions to the brink of a global conflict, raising the specter of World War III.

Kim also reiterated North Korea's commitment to strengthening its nuclear defense capabilities "without limit." His remarks followed recent statements from Seoul, asserting that North Korean troops have already begun participating in combat operations alongside Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.

The relationship between North Korea and Russia has seen a significant shift, culminating in North Korea's ratification of a landmark defense pact with Russia just last week. Observers believe that in exchange for troop support, Russia might be providing technological aid to enhance Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, a development that has concerned Western nations.

This growing alliance and the possible involvement of North Korean troops in Ukraine have resulted in a shift in stance from Seoul. South Korea, which had previously refrained from sending lethal aid to Kyiv, has hinted at a potential policy change in response to these developments.