Ukraine says North Korea preparing to deploy another 10,000 troops to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that there are over 8,000 North Korean troops currently on Russian territory, with preparations underway to deploy an additional 10,000 troops. These estimates come from new data provided by Zelensky, who stated that the North Korean soldiers are being trained and prepared for deployment in Russia. In August, Zelensky had previously stated that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could potentially be sent to fight alongside Russia.

Zelensky's remarks follow a recent disagreement between South Korea and Ukraine over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to Seoul. South Korea expressed regret over the announcement, citing a confidentiality agreement that they claimed had been established. Despite this, Zelensky's comments come amid heightened tensions between North Korea and South Korea, following the latter's announcement of a $100 million aid package for Ukraine in July, which excluded lethal weapons.

North Korea has been actively supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine since 2024, with estimates suggesting the deployment of between 14,000 and 15,000 troops. Most of these North Korean forces have been stationed in the Kursk region, providing crucial support to Russia in repelling Ukrainian advances. In addition to troop deployments, North Korea has also supplied Russia with substantial artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems, and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.