Ukraine’s military intelligence chief issued a warning on Friday that Russia intends to deploy North Korean soldiers to the battlefield, describing this as “a clear escalation by Russia.” Volodymyr Zelenskiy shared this insight in an interview with CNN’s Roberta Kaminska-Davis, which aired in full on X, as he prepared to leave for New York for his upcoming appearance at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
The news that the Russians plan to send North Korean troops to the front lines is likely to shock Kyiv and the West, he said. “According to intelligence, the first North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed by Russia to combat zones as early as October 27-28,” Zelenskiy said on X after receiving reports from his top commander. The president added that Moscow is preparing for the deployment of two brigades of 6,000 North Koreans.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian intelligence reported that North Korean troops are already in the Kursk region and receiving training at five Russian military bases. The Pentagon has confirmed the presence of North Korean military personnel in Russia, saying they are believed to be undergoing basic combat training and acclimating to the climate and terrain. The North Korean troops in Russia are also receiving instruction in the use of Russian weapons systems, the Defense Department says.
The Kremlin has brushed off the warnings that North Korean soldiers are in Russia, saying it’s up to Pyongyang and Moscow to implement the strategic partnership treaty signed by the two countries in June. In a televised address Thursday at the end of the BRICS summit in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan, Putin said it was up to the North Korean leadership whether to use its forces in Ukraine.
Experts say the deployment of North Korean troops would help Moscow with its war effort in Ukraine, providing it with a workforce that it lacks and allowing it to boost the effectiveness of its missiles. However, many of the North Korean soldiers sent to Ukraine will likely be “elite” troops who are unlikely to survive a war with Ukrainian regular forces, experts say. In exchange for their risky mission, the North Koreans will get money, weapons technology, and battle experience, they add.
The United States and NATO have vowed to seriously consider taking direct military action against Russia if it uses the North Koreans in the fighting. Still, the U.S. is waiting to see how Moscow and Pyongyang will respond. Nevertheless, Zelensky says the North Korean troop deployment is a serious escalation and needs to be responded to with concrete pressure on both sides to comply with international law and stop stoking the conflict in Ukraine. Adding North Koreans to the fight will also bolster Moscow’s propaganda efforts in its attempt to destabilize Ukraine. A significant escalation in Ukraine could lead to regional chaos, western officials warn.
