Zelensky Claims North Korea to Deploy 50,000 Troops to Russia
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed to Russia to fight alongside Moscow. This figure represents an increase from his previous estimate of 30,000 in July. Zelensky shared this information via the social media platform X.
President Zelensky did not disclose the source of his intelligence but indicated that Ukraine has found North Korean missiles within its borders, without specifying their locations. He asserted that North Korea is clearly continuing to gain experience in modern warfare, receiving authorization from Russia, and will obtain various military tools from Moscow.
Addressing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and seeking closer cooperation with Seoul, Zelensky expressed Ukraine’s strong desire for support from South Korea in areas where it faces shortages. “We are ready to work on drone agreements and other areas as well,” he added, noting that Ukrainian diplomats are in contact to advance potential agreements with Seoul.
The assertion comes in the wake of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June 2024. This pact includes a clause for mutual assistance in the event either country faces external aggression.
Reports suggest North Korea views its deployment as assistance to its treaty partner. Previously, North Korea reportedly dispatched approximately 14,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, aiding Moscow in repelling Ukrainian advances. Earlier this month, an official from Ukrainian military intelligence informed Reuters that a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying in western Russia, equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers intended for strikes against Ukraine.
Ukraine is significantly lacking in advanced air defense systems, a vulnerability Russia has sought to exploit by employing more ballistic missiles, which are particularly difficult to intercept.
