Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently on Russian territory, with preparations underway to send an additional 10,000 soldiers, citing what he described as “new data” on Pyongyang’s deepening military support for Moscow.
According to Zelenskiy, the troops are “being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia,” signaling that North Korea’s involvement in the war is set to expand further in the coming months.
Scale of North Korean Support
The Ukrainian president said in August that as many as 50,000 North Korean soldiers could ultimately be sent to fight for Russia, and he has repeatedly urged South Korea to provide support for Ukraine’s air defence.
Seoul announced in July a $100 million aid package for Ukraine, though it excluded lethal weapons — a limitation that has frustrated Kyiv as it seeks to bolster its defences against sustained Russian strikes.
North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort since 2024, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates, with most deployed in the Kursk region to help repel a Ukrainian incursion.
Beyond manpower, Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, as well as ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.
Dispute Over Captured Soldiers
Zelenskiy’s latest comments came amid fresh friction between Seoul and Kyiv over his announcement last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
Seoul expressed regret over the disclosure, citing an agreement to keep the transfer confidential. South Korea also protested against what it called a false statement from the Ukrainian presidential office denying that such a confidentiality agreement existed.
The rare public spat underscores the delicate nature of cooperation between the two governments, even as they share a common adversary in Pyongyang’s growing military partnership with Moscow.
Growing Alliance Under Scrutiny
The deepening ties between Russia and North Korea have drawn mounting concern from Western capitals and Asian allies alike. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russian soil marks a significant escalation in Pyongyang’s direct involvement in the conflict, raising questions about what Moscow may be offering in return.
Analysts have warned that the arrangement could accelerate the transfer of military technology to North Korea, potentially destabilizing the Korean Peninsula and complicating security calculations across the region.
With thousands more troops reportedly preparing to deploy, the coming weeks are likely to bring further scrutiny of a partnership that both Kyiv and Seoul view as a direct threat to their national security.
