Zelenskyy says up to 50,000 North Korean troops will be deployed to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops are set to be deployed to Russia, warning that Pyongyang is gaining experience in modern warfare and receiving military technology from Moscow.
Zelenskyy made the comments during an interview with the United News telethon. He did not say when the deployment would begin or where the troops would be stationed.
“At first, we were talking about hundreds, then thousands, and now a decision has been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on the territory of Russia,” Zelenskyy said.
North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia in late 2024, with many of them deployed to the Kursk region to fight Ukrainian forces. Moscow and Pyongyang publicly acknowledged their involvement in April 2025 after Russia said it had regained territory captured by Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said that the troops are studying the conflict and could use their experience in a future war in the Pacific, potentially posing a threat to other Asian countries.
“We have already found North Korean missiles on the territory of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “It is absolutely clear that North Korea will continue to build its experience in modern warfare, receive licenses from Russia, and receive all kinds of military tools from them.”
Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June 2024. The defense pact requires either country to provide immediate military assistance if the other comes under armed attack.
Zelenskyy asked South Korea to deepen its cooperation with Ukraine, specifically asking Seoul to provide air defense systems and work toward an agreement involving drones.
“They have a legal restriction under their Constitution,” Zelenskyy said. “But we would like to have this cooperation and are counting on it. Our diplomats are in contact.”
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
