Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said North Korea is sending military personnel to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea is already a vital supplier of munitions to Russia, providing Moscow with desperately needed artillery shells, in particular, but the possibility that Pyongyang is now sending troops to Ukraine ratchets up its involvement in the conflict.
"We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea," Zelenskyy said on Sunday in his evening video address to the country.
"It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier's military forces.
"Obviously, in such circumstances, our relations with our partners need to be developed. The frontline needs more support," he said.
Zelenskyy went on to call for “more decisive supplies” from Ukraine’s allies to help counter the new threat.
His comments come following media reports claiming that “thousands” of North Korean troops were preparing to fight in Ukraine.
On October 11, the Washington Post said that several thousand North Korean soldiers are undergoing training in Russia, with the potential to be deployed to the Ukrainian frontlines by the end of the year.
"We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea," Zelenskyy said on Sunday in his evening video address to the country.
"It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier's military forces.
"Obviously, in such circumstances, our relations with our partners need to be developed. The frontline needs more support," he said.
Zelenskyy went on to call for “more decisive supplies” from Ukraine’s allies to help counter the new threat.
His comments come following media reports claiming that “thousands” of North Korean troops were preparing to fight in Ukraine.
On October 11, the Washington Post said that several thousand North Korean soldiers are undergoing training in Russia, with the potential to be deployed to the Ukrainian frontlines by the end of the year.
Additionally, individual North Korean officers are allegedly present in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, observing Russian forces and studying the battlefield, according to sources cited by The Washington Post.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War think tank have suggested that North Korea’s involvement could extend beyond artillery support, with potential deployments of advanced weapons systems requiring in-person guidance.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as a “hoax,” while North Korea and Russia have consistently denied sending military personnel.
If true, these claims represent a significant escalation in military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, which had already deepened due to a mutual defense pact signed this summer by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin.
The agreement pledged "full" support for Russia's war effort, underscoring the growing alignment between the two heavily sanctioned states.
Recent intelligence from South Korea and Ukraine suggests North Korean personnel may already be operating in occupied Donetsk Oblast.
A missile strike by Ukraine earlier this month reportedly killed several North Korean military officers. There are also concerns that North Korean soldiers could be deployed to Russian border regions, potentially allowing Russian forces to focus on offensive operations in Ukraine.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War think tank have suggested that North Korea’s involvement could extend beyond artillery support, with potential deployments of advanced weapons systems requiring in-person guidance.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as a “hoax,” while North Korea and Russia have consistently denied sending military personnel.
If true, these claims represent a significant escalation in military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, which had already deepened due to a mutual defense pact signed this summer by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin.
The agreement pledged "full" support for Russia's war effort, underscoring the growing alignment between the two heavily sanctioned states.
Recent intelligence from South Korea and Ukraine suggests North Korean personnel may already be operating in occupied Donetsk Oblast.
A missile strike by Ukraine earlier this month reportedly killed several North Korean military officers. There are also concerns that North Korean soldiers could be deployed to Russian border regions, potentially allowing Russian forces to focus on offensive operations in Ukraine.
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