Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Friday that North Korean troops are poised to be deployed by Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine as early as this weekend.
Western officials cautioned that this development could intensify the nearly three-year conflict and produce geopolitical effects reaching as far as the Indo-Pacific.
Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had determined that “the first North Korean military will be used by Russia in combat zones” sometime between Sunday and Monday.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks with Ukrainian journalists in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Friday that North Korean…
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks with Ukrainian journalists in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Friday that North Korean troops are poised to be deployed by Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine as early as this weekend.
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Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP
How Concering Is North Korea’s Deployment in Ukraine?
He said on Telegram that the claimed deployment was “an obvious escalating move by Russia.” No further details were provided, including any information on where exactly the North Korean soldiers were expected to be sent.
Russia has mounted an intense summer offensive along Ukraine’s eastern front, forcing Kyiv to cede ground gradually. However, Moscow faces difficulties dislodging Ukrainian forces from its own Kursk border region following a cross-border incursion nearly three months ago, highlighting persistent challenges despite Russia’s advances on other fronts.
A Russian soldier aims from a bunker in the Russian on Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region, Russia on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Russia has mounted an intense summer offensive along Ukraine’s eastern front,…
A Russian soldier aims from a bunker in the Russian on Ukrainian border area in the Kursk region, Russia on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Russia has mounted an intense summer offensive along Ukraine’s eastern front, forcing Kyiv to cede ground gradually.
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Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP
However, the deployment of North Korean forces under a military agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang introduces a new dimension to the conflict in Ukraine. This development marks a significant shift, intensifying what has become Europe’s largest war since World War II, with heavy civilian and military casualties on both sides.
How Many North Korean Troops Will Join Russia?
The U.S. reported on Wednesday that 3,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training at several locations, describing the move as highly concerning.
Kyiv has also said North Korea plans to send generals to aid Russian forces in their war against Ukraine.
Some 500 officers, including three generals, will be among the 12,000 North Korean troops expected to be deployed in Russia, Ukraine‘s defense intelligence agency wrote in a statement on Telegram on Thursday. The agency did not disclose the basis for this claim.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated last week that his government has intelligence indicating that 10,000 North Korean troops are preparing to support Russian forces in Ukraine. Zelensky warned that the involvement of a third nation in the conflict could escalate it into a “world war,” emphasizing the potential for significant international repercussions.
Does North Korea Already Help Russia?
North Korea has already been supplying ammunition to Russia under an existing defense pact. However, deploying troops could further complicate the conflict, which has already polarized global politics, with most Western nations aligning in support of Kyiv.
This potential shift in North Korean involvement marks an escalation that may deepen international divisions and add new complexities to the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has looked for support during the summit this week of BRICS countries, which are made up of Russia, China, India, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, South Africa and the UAE.
Russia seeks to foster relations with these BRICS countries as a counterweight to the global influence of the U.S. and allied Western nations.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press