Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is expecting clashes between North Korean and Ukrainian troops within days.
In an interview with the Korean Broadcasting System, the national broadcaster of South Korea, Zelensky said: “So far, North Korean troops have not participated in battles. They are preparing to participate in battles (in Kursk).”
Western leaders have expressed concern over reports that North Korea has dispatched roughly 10,000 soldiers to assist Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, raising concerns that Pyongyang’s deepening involvement in a European war could disrupt stability in the Indo-Pacific, particularly impacting security dynamics involving Japan and Australia.
Zelensky confirmed he recently discussed the matter with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, alerting him that some 3,000 North Korean troops are already stationed near the Ukrainian front line, with expectations that this figure could soon surge to 12,000.
Meanwhile, U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated on Tuesday that a “relatively small number” of North Korean soldiers have arrived in Russia’s Kursk region, where Russian forces are grappling with Ukrainian counter-offensives. He added that an additional contingent of thousands is currently en route to the area.
More to follow.
