Zelenskyy says Russia preparing to deploy more North Korean troops, warns Asian allies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy additional North Korean forces on its territory and has received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang, arguing that their growing military cooperation poses a threat beyond Ukraine.

“For the first time in its history, Russia cannot wage war without reinforcements from North Korea,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, adding that Moscow was preparing to receive another North Korean contingent.

He said North Korea was gaining valuable battlefield experience by supplying weapons and personnel to Russia, allowing Pyongyang to identify and correct weaknesses in its military capabilities.

Zelenskyy warned that the experience could ultimately increase security risks for countries far beyond Ukraine's borders - including South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. He urged Ukraine’s partners to strengthen Kyiv’s air defences.

Up to 50,000 North Korean troops

The warning follows Zelenskyy’s claim that between 30,000 and 50,000 additional North Korean soldiers could be deployed to Russia, significantly expanding Pyongyang’s involvement in the war.

Reuters reported on Sunday that Zelenskyy said a decision had been made for the deployment, though he did not disclose the source of his information.

North Korea has already sent an estimated 14,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region since 2024, helping Russian forces fight Ukrainian troops that had crossed into the region. Pyongyang has described its deployment as assistance to Russia under the two countries’ defence agreement.

Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June 2024, which includes a mutual assistance clause in the event either country faces external aggression.

North Korean missile unit deployed

The cooperation has also expanded beyond troops and ammunition: an official from Ukraine’s military intelligence told Reuters this month that a North Korean missile unit of around 90 personnel had begun deploying to Russia’s western Voronezh region and could eventually operate with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers.

According to the official, Pyongyang had already supplied a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles. Russia has fired North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine since late 2023, while Pyongyang has also supplied millions of artillery and mortar rounds.

Ukraine says the renewed supply is particularly concerning because ballistic missiles are among the most difficult weapons for its air defences to intercept.

Zelenskyy said increased international coordination and stronger Ukrainian air defences would therefore not only protect Ukraine, but also limit North Korea’s ability to use the war to improve its weapons and combat capabilities.

Russia has previously confirmed that North Korean troops fought alongside its forces in the Kursk region, but Moscow has not commented on Ukraine’s latest claims about additional troop deployments or a new North Korean missile unit.

Zelenskyy says North Korean missiles used in Zaporizhzhia attack

Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Russia had used North Korean ballistic missiles in an overnight attack on Zaporizhzhia, providing a new example of what Kyiv says is Pyongyang’s growing military support for Moscow.

According to Zelenskyy, the attack involved North Korean ballistic missiles, Zircon missiles and guided aerial bombs. Ukrainian authorities said at least six people were killed and 19 wounded in the city.

The Zaporizhzhia strike came as part of a wider Russian attack across Ukraine involving more than 120 drones, according to Zelenskyy. Kyiv was also struck, while attacks damaged substations and caused power outages in Kherson and Kharkiv.

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