What would a North Korean surge mean for Ukraine war?
Ukraine is claiming that North Korea is preparing to send tens of thousands more troops to Russia, where they'll gain valuable battlefield experience. President Zelenskyy has urged South Korea to work closer with Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims North Korea plans to send up to 50,000 troops to Russia to aid in the war against Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader previously mentioned Russia sought to bring in an additional 30,000 North Korean soldiers, with the final number ranging between 30,000 and 50,000. Zelenskyy warned North Korea is gaining valuable experience in modern warfare and urged South Korea to cooperate more with Ukraine on air defense and drones.
Russia and North Korea signed a defense pact in 2024, with North Korean combat troops being deployed to Russia a few months later. Analysts estimate between 14,000 to 15,000 personnel were sent, mainly to the Kursk region. Pyongyang later agreed to send an additional 6,000 sappers and military construction workers. South Korean intelligence estimates around 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded.
Japan's Kyodo News cited Ukrainian military intelligence, confirming the upcoming North Korean surge. South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-weon, a former military journalist who visited Ukraine, expressed concern over the potential deployment. Yu noted that 30,000 to 50,000 troops would significantly outnumber the initial 20,000 troops and support forces.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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