Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Russia is preparing to deploy an additional 30,000 North Korean troops to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a video address posted on X (formerly Twitter) on July 25, Zelensky stated, "Russia is trying to bring in 30,000 North Korean troops," adding that preparations for their accommodation have been underway in the Voronezh region of Russia since June.
Voronezh is located in southwestern Russia, bordering Ukraine. However, Zelensky did not specify when the additional troops would be deployed or the exact locations where they would be stationed.
Zelensky also alleged that North Korea is preparing to supply Russia with additional launchers for ballistic missiles.
He emphasized, "This is not just a threat to Ukraine. Russia is helping North Korea learn how to conduct warfare, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience."
He further stated, "All of this poses a threat to every country in Asia within the range of North Korean missiles," asserting that Ukraine will respond accordingly.
North Korea and Russia signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty' during a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. The treaty stipulates that if one country is subjected to a military invasion and finds itself in a state of war, the other will provide military assistance without delay.
Following this, North Korea dispatched troops to Russia's Kursk region in 2024 to support operations aimed at halting the advance of Ukrainian forces into Russian territory. Reuters estimates that North Korea sent approximately 14,000 troops to Kursk that year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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