30,000-50,000 N. Koreans to be deployed in Russia: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed that North Korea plans to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 troops to bolster Russia's efforts in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Addressing this in a recent X post, Zelenskyy cited remarks from a United News telethon interview. Initially, Ukrainian officials had indicated the potential involvement of hundreds or thousands of North Korean forces; however, a definitive decision now points to a contingent numbering in the thousands.

The Ukrainian president further asserted that North Korea would gain valuable experience in modern warfare by aligning with Russia, adding that Pyongyang will likely continue honing its military tactics, seek licenses for advanced weaponry from Russia, and procure additional military equipment. Zelenskyy specifically highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine during these trying times, emphasizing Ukraine's interest in receiving support from Seoul in areas such as air defense systems and drone technology.

The development comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inked a mutual defense agreement in June 2024, following which North Korea reportedly sent approximately 20,000 combat troops and military engineers to the Kursk region in support of Russia's military operations in Ukraine.