“북한군 5만명 온다”…젤렌스키, 한국에 방공무기 요청

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that North Korean forces of 30,000 to 50,000 troops are set to be deployed in Russia, prompting South Korea to request assistance with anti-aircraft systems. Recently, North Korean missile shortages have led to significant casualties in Ukraine, with at least five people killed and 40 more injured in recent attacks.

President Zelenskyy announced on social media platform X that North Korean troops are increasingly amassing on Russian territory, starting from hundreds to thousands and now reaching up to 30,000 to 50,000. He highlighted that the experience of North Korean troops in modern warfare could pose a threat to other Asian nations. Zelenskyy also pointed out that North Korean missiles have been found in Ukraine and used in attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Earlier reports from Ukraine's intelligence agency stated that a deployment of North Korean missile units in Russia was planned, and Ukrainian officials confirmed that a North Korean missile struck a residential area in central Ukraine, killing at least five people. President Zelenskyy urged South Korea to strengthen cooperation with Ukraine, requesting support from South Korea for areas lacking anti-aircraft systems.

He also noted that both sides are prepared to collaborate in other areas, such as unmanned drone agreements. Recently, Ukraine has struggled to defend against Russian missile attacks due to depleted supplies of anti-aircraft missiles, with at least 17 people killed and over 40 injured in recent incidents. Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles, 4 Krugov missiles, and 115 unmanned drones on Kyiv, but failed to intercept a single Ukrainian missile, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 people and injuries to more than 40.

South Korea maintains a policy of not providing lethal weapons support to Ukraine following the war's onset in 2022. During the Yoon Suk-yeol government, only safety equipment such as landmines and mine-clearing tools were provided. However, South Korea did sell 100,000 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine in 2022 and loaned 500,000 in 2023, while the United States provided remaining 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine.