Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently on Russian territory, with another 10,000 allegedly being prepared for deployment.
Zelenskiy made the claim on Monday, saying new information indicated that additional North Korean personnel were being selected and trained before being sent to Russia.
“They are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia,” Zelenskiy said.
The Ukrainian president had previously warned in August that as many as 50,000 North Korean soldiers could eventually be sent to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.
He also called on South Korea to provide further assistance to Ukraine, particularly in strengthening its air defence capabilities.
South Korea announced a $100 million aid package for Ukraine in July, although the support did not include lethal weapons.
Zelenskiy’s latest comments come amid renewed tension between Kyiv and Seoul over the handling of two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine while fighting alongside Russian forces.
Zelenskiy recently disclosed that the two captured soldiers had been transferred to South Korea. Seoul subsequently expressed regret over the public announcement, saying the transfer had been subject to an agreement to keep the matter confidential. Ukraine has disputed South Korea’s account of the confidentiality arrangement.
North Korea has been accused of providing substantial military support to Russia since 2024. Ukrainian and South Korean estimates put the number of North Korean troops sent to support Russia’s war effort at between 14,000 and 15,000, with many reportedly deployed in Russia’s Kursk region.
Pyongyang has also been reported to have supplied Russia with large quantities of artillery and mortar ammunition, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems.
The latest claim about another 10,000 troops comes as military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang continues to draw international attention.
Zelenskiy has continued to urge South Korea and other countries to increase support for Ukraine as Kyiv faces continued Russian attacks and seeks to strengthen its air defence and military capabilities.
