North Korea is preparing a massive troop surge to help its ally Moscow in its war on Ukraine, with up to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed in Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In late July, the Ukrainian leader said Russia wanted to bring in another 30,000 North Korean troops, before adding this weekend that Pyongyang decided to have between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans deployed on Russian territory. He did not specify if this number included the North Korean troops already taking part in the conflict.
In the comments published this weekend, Zelenskyy also warned North Korea was gaining valuable experience in modern warfare and urged South Korea to boost cooperation with Ukraine on air defense and drones. Two days later, Zelenskyy said Russia had received more North Korean ballistic missiles, which were allegedly used in an attack on Zaporizhzhia.
North Korea has suffered thousands of casualties in the Ukraine war
Russia and North Korea signed a defense pact in the summer of 2024, with North Korea starting to send combat troops to Russia several months later. Analysts believe some 14,000 to 15,000 personnel were deployed, mainly in the Kursk region.
