Zelensky says Russia readying more N. Korean troops, missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that Russia is amassing additional North Korean soldiers and ballistic missiles on its soil. In his nightly address, Zelensky, who has long warned of intensifying military alliances between Moscow and Pyongyang, said Russia is now deploying more North Korean troops than before.

He claimed Russia has just received more ballistic missiles from North Korea. While he did not provide evidence or a timeline to back up these claims, Zelensky called on Japan and South Korea to bolster Ukraine's air defenses, stating that it is necessary to counter the growing North Korean force that is bolstering Moscow's military capabilities.

At the end of last month, Zelensky indicated that between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans might be stationed in Russia. The exact source of these figures was not disclosed. North Korea has emerged as a key military ally for Russia since June 2024, when Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense agreement.

Following this pact, Russia utilized North Korean forces during a counteroffensive that drove Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region.