Zelenskyy says 50,000 North Korean troops will help Russia in war
Mr Zelenskyy took to social media to announced that "a decision has been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on the territory of Russia", while calling on South Korea to provide support for Ukraine's air defence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that up to 50,000 North Korean troops would be deployed to support Russia in its war efforts. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, signed a strategic partnership treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024, which includes provisions for mutual assistance during external aggression.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that South Korea would aid Ukraine with its air defense systems, as Ukraine faces a shortage of high-end air defenses and Russia is exploiting this vulnerability by using more ballistic missiles. North Korea has already deployed an estimated 14,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk Region in 2024 to bolster Moscow's defenses against Ukrainian incursions.
The country has supplied Russia with a vast array of military equipment, including ballistic missiles, artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems, posing a significant challenge to Ukraine's air defenses.
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