Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday that Russia is preparing to deploy 10000 North Korean soldiers in its fight against Ukraine, citing intelligence reports.
While Zelensky had previously accused North Korea of sending troops to aid Russia, this was the first time he provided a specific figure. According to Ukrainian intelligence, some North Korean soldiers are already present in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
“We know about 10,000 North Korean soldiers that they are preparing to send to fight against us,” Zelensky stated during a press briefing in Brussels after discussions with EU leaders. He also mentioned that the troops included land forces and other tactical personnel.
The Ukrainian president expressed concerns that this move signaled the potential start of a larger conflict, warning that it was “the first step to a world war.” Zelensky also reiterated his claim that Iran is supporting Russia with drones and missiles, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
Zelensky suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is relying on these North Korean troops because of his hesitancy to launch a large-scale mobilization in Russia.
The comments came as Zelensky attended a summit of EU leaders and NATO defense ministers in Brussels, continuing to advocate for his “victory plan” to bring an end to the war with Russia.
Experts have long suspected that North Korean missiles are being used by Russian forces in Ukraine, although both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied this. Ties between Russia and North Korea have strengthened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Putin visiting Pyongyang in June to sign a mutual defense agreement with Kim Jong Un.
