President Zelenskyy says North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 troops — Asharq Al-Awsat

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are present on the territory of the Russian Federation, the aggressor state, and that Pyongyang is preparing to send another 10,000 soldiers. This was reported by Asharq Al-Awsat.

Preparation of a new contingent

According to Zelenskyy, these data are based on new information about the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia. He noted that military personnel are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia.

In August, the Ukrainian president stated that Russia could receive up to 50,000 North Korean servicemen to take part in the war against Ukraine. At the time, he also called on South Korea to support Ukraine's air defense.

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North Korean assistance to Russia

According to estimates by Ukraine and South Korea, since 2024 North Korea has sent between 14,000 and 15,000 troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Most of them, according to these data, were deployed in the Kursk region to counter the Ukrainian operation.

Ukrainian and independent estimates also indicate that Pyongyang supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems, and multiple launch rocket systems.

In July, South Korea announced a $100 million aid package for Ukraine that did not include the supply of lethal weapons. Zelenskyy's statement came after disagreements between Kyiv and Seoul over reports of transferring two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.