Zelensky has warned that Russia could deploy up to 50,000 North Korean troops, saying Pyongyang is gaining experience in modern warfare through the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia could deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops, warning that Pyongyang is gaining valuable battlefield experience through its involvement in the war.
Zelensky said North Korea was “studying this war” and learning modern warfare techniques under Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he warned could eventually pose a wider security threat in Asia.
Zelensky seeks South Korea’s air defence support
In a post on X on Saturday, Zelensky said a decision had been made for “30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on the territory of Russia”.
The estimate is higher than the figure of around 30,000 troops he cited in July. Zelensky did not provide details on the source of the latest assessment.
He also said Ukraine had recovered North Korean missiles on its territory, though he did not disclose where they were found.
Zelensky called for closer military cooperation with South Korea, particularly in air defence, an area where Ukraine faces shortages.
“We would very much like to receive support from South Korea in an area where we have a shortage,” he said, adding that Kyiv was also ready to cooperate with Seoul on drone production and other defence-related projects.
More from WorldNorth Korea deepens military ties with Russia
Russia and North Korea have significantly strengthened their military partnership since Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June 2024.
During the visit, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty that includes a mutual assistance provision in the event of external aggression against either country.
Pyongyang has described its military involvement in Russia as support for a treaty partner.
North Korea is estimated to have sent around 14,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, where they helped Russian forces repel a major Ukrainian incursion.
North Korean missiles raise concern
Ukraine has also raised concerns over North Korea’s growing contribution of weapons to Russia.
A Ukrainian military intelligence official told Reuters earlier this month that a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying to western Russia. The unit could reportedly be equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers capable of striking Ukrainian targets.
Ukraine is facing shortages of advanced air defence systems, while Russia has increasingly used ballistic missiles, which are particularly difficult to intercept.
North Korea has also supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar shells, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.
Fresh attacks reported as fighting continues
Zelensky’s remarks came amid continued Russian and Ukrainian strikes.
Four people, including a child, were killed in Russian attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas on Saturday, while Ukraine struck another oil refinery in Russia.
In Russia’s Belgorod region, five people were killed and 25 others injured in overnight attacks, according to the regional operational headquarters.
Zelensky said Russian forces also targeted several Ukrainian regions, including Odesa, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk.
Zelensky meets Serbia’s Vucic
The Ukrainian president made the remarks while meeting Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Vucic reiterated Serbia’s support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, as both countries seek closer ties with the European Union.
The developments come as Ukraine and Russia continue fighting ahead of planned diplomatic talks, with Kyiv also seeking greater international support for its air defence capabilities.