Zelensky: Between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean Troops Could Be Deployed to Russia
Ukrainian president reveals new intelligence indicating a dramatic increase in Pyongyang's military support for Moscow.
Ukrainian president reveals new intelligence indicating a dramatic increase in Pyongyang's military support for Moscow.
New intelligence assessments suggest that Russia could deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops to fight alongside its own forces, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday. That figure dramatically exceeds anything Kyiv has previously stated about the scale of Pyongyang's military support for Moscow.
Zelensky also confirmed that Ukrainian forces have found remnants of North Korean missiles on Ukrainian territory. The discovery further intensifies the picture of that country's deepening involvement in the war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials warn of the cost of this exchange: North Korea, in return for sending personnel and ammunition, gains valuable modern combat experience and access to advanced Russian military technologies. The strategic partnership between the two countries was formalized in June 2024 with the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
The agreement also includes a mutual defense clause, further solidifying the Moscow-Pyongyang relationship. Western and allied defense analysts warn that the expansion of this partnership could have implications far beyond the Ukrainian battlefield, potentially affecting security dynamics in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
As Moscow and Pyongyang deepen military cooperation, Zelensky has called on South Korea to strengthen defense cooperation with Ukraine. He specifically requested air defense systems and drone technologies from Seoul, key tools in defending against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukrainian officials are simultaneously pursuing diplomatic channels to secure agreements for the supply of defense equipment. The latest developments underscore the growing concern in Kyiv and among allies: North Korea's military role in supporting Russia is no longer peripheral. It is becoming a serious strategic factor.