Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Russia is preparing to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops and more ballistic missile launchers to support its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Zelensky made the allegation in a post on X late Saturday, saying preparations for the deployment are already underway in Russia’s Voronezh region, near the Ukrainian border.
According to him, the planned reinforcement follows North Korea’s previous military support for Russia, including the deployment of thousands of troops during Ukraine’s counter-offensive in the Kursk region in 2024.
“Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea. Since June, preparations have been underway in Russia’s Voronezh region to receive them,” Zelensky wrote.
The Ukrainian leader also alleged that North Korea is preparing to send additional ballistic missile launchers to Russia, warning that the growing military partnership poses a wider threat beyond Europe.
“North Korea is also preparing to transfer additional launchers for ballistic missiles to Russia. This is a threat not only to Ukraine. Russia is helping North Korea learn how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience in using them,” he said.
Zelensky warned that the cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang could have serious security implications for countries across Asia.
“All of this is a threat to everyone in Asia who is within range of North Korean missiles,” he added.
North Korea has been one of Russia’s closest allies since the war began in 2022, supplying weapons and later sending troops after both countries signed a mutual military assistance treaty in 2024.
According to South Korea, about 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed while fighting in the conflict.
The latest claims come days after North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow, where Pyongyang reaffirmed its support for Russia’s military campaign.
In a statement released after the talks, North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, said the country would continue to back Russia’s efforts.
“Pyongyang expressed invariable support for all the internal and external policies of the Russian Federation to eliminate the root cause of the Ukrainian dispute and defend its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and international justice,” KCNA stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed gratitude for North Korea’s continued support in a video released ahead of the minister’s visit.
Reports indicate that in exchange for military assistance, North Korea has received financial support, military technology, food supplies and energy resources from Russia to help ease the impact of international sanctions.
Source: AFP.
