Crossword Genius

Considers surrounding North Korea with this (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thinks

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'considers' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to thinking as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'surrounding north korea with this' is the wordplay.
'surrounding' is an insertion indicator.
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'korea' becomes 'k' (this could be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'n'+'k'='nk'
'nk' put into 'this' is 'THINKS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thinks that I've seen before include "Reflects, cogitates" , "Exercises the mind" , "Ponders" , "Believes" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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