Why did the U.S. allow a 'hit on the Russian mainland'?

[Anchor]
After much consideration, the U.S. has allowed the U.S.-made long-range missile to strike mainland Russia.

Russia is strongly protesting, even mentioning World War III.

Why did the United States make this decision at this point?

Reporter Kwon Young-hee reports.

[Reporter]
The war in Ukraine marked its biggest tipping point in the U.S. presidential election when former President Trump was elected.

The war, which the U.S. and the West supported for more than two years, is in a situation where it could end in vain.

For the United States, we need to signal to Russia that support for Ukraine will continue.

The Russian mainland hit is also an issue that House Republicans have strongly argued for.

Russia has been defining the issue as a "red line" early on.

However, the U.S. believes that Russia is likely not to be able to directly respond to the military.

[Iron Kelly/Professor of International Relations at Northwestern University] Putin would not want to face the United States directly. I don't think there will be a direct military response.

It is also necessary to calm the concerns of neighboring countries about the dispatch of North Korean troops.

North Korea's transfer of advanced weapons technology from Russia in exchange for dispatch poses a major threat to South Korea and Japan.

Analysts say the U.S. decision in APEC, where all the leaders of related countries gathered, also took this into account.

[Marc Rutter / NATO Secretary-General: North Korean troops are being deployed to Russia against Ukraine, which is escalating tensions significantly]

Now the ball is over to Russia.

Putin has repeatedly mentioned the use of nuclear weapons.

[Vladimir Putin / President of Russia] The West believes that Russia will never use nuclear weapons. But we have a nuclear doctrine.

For Russia, indirect responses such as strong cyberattacks and supply chain disruptions, even if not the use of nuclear weapons, are expected to be inevitable.

I'm YTN's Kwon Younghee.

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video: Han Kyung-hee