Brussels: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that North Korea is gearing up to dispatch approximately 10,000 troops to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict against Ukraine. This statement was made during a press briefing following the European Union summit in Brussels.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Zelenskyy cited intelligence reports from Ukraine indicating that North Korean forces are already present in territories occupied by Russia, with plans to send additional troops. “We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send to fight against us,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that the mobilization of North Korean soldiers is likely a strategy by Russian President Vladimir Putin to offset significant Russian military losses and the reluctance of young Russians to participate due to fear of conscription. “Putin is afraid of mobilization very much because social opinion is against his,” he explained.
Zelenskyy highlighted the involvement of a “second country” in the conflict, underscoring the international ramifications of such military cooperation.
The revelation follows reports earlier this month from Ukrainian media, which claimed that six North Koreans were among the casualties of a Ukrainian missile strike in the Donetsk region on October 3. Russia, however, has denied the use of North Korean troops in its military operations.
The potential involvement of North Korean forces could mark a significant escalation in military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang, amid existing international condemnation over their suspected arms trades.