Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that North Korean troops are reportedly set to be deployed by Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as soon as this weekend. This claim has prompted grave concern among Western officials, who warned that the involvement of North Korean units could escalate the nearly three-year-long war and lead to geopolitical repercussions extending to the Indo-Pacific region.
The potential deployment has heightened diplomatic tensions, as officials express anxiety over the developments. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby reported that national security advisers from the United States, Japan, and South Korea met and expressed significant concern regarding the possibility of North Korean troops being utilized by Russia in the conflict. These advisers urged both Russia and North Korea to stop actions that could expand the geopolitical dimensions of Russia’s war beyond Europe.
According to Kirby, it is believed that over 3,000 North Korean troops may have been sent to Russia for outfitting and training. Although the U.S. government lacks confirmed intelligence on their exact deployment locations, it is speculated that these troops could be stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine has maintained some territorial gains since August. However, Kirby emphasized uncertainty about the specific roles or purposes for which the North Korean troops would be used.
A senior Ukrainian presidential office official informed the Associated Press that President Zelenskyy canceled a planned visit to Kyiv by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who had attended this week’s BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. A photograph of Guterres with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit sparked a strong reaction in Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy communicated via Telegram that Ukrainian intelligence indicated North Korean military personnel are expected to support Russia in combat zones imminently, describing this as an escalation strategy by Russia. He did not specify the deployment locations for these soldiers.
Russia is currently carrying out intense military operations on Ukraine’s eastern front, forcing Ukraine to relinquish some territory. Despite this, Russia faces challenges in dislodging Ukrainian forces from its Kursk region, following a Ukrainian incursion nearly three months ago. Ukrainian intelligence, known as GUR, reported detecting North Korean units in Kursk and revealed that these soldiers had undergone training in eastern Russia, receiving gear for winter conditions. GUR estimated the number of deployed North Korean troops at approximately 12,000, including several hundred officers and generals, but provided no evidence to support these claims.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans indicated through social media that intelligence suggested these North Korean soldiers would likely be deployed in Kursk first. The presence of North Korean forces as part of a military agreement with Moscow introduces a new layer to the conflict, which is Europe’s largest since World War II and has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
The U.S. confirmed earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia and are being trained, describing this move as a serious development. President Zelenskyy previously announced that Ukrainian intelligence suggests approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are being prepared to join Russian forces, warning that such involvement by an additional nation could potentially escalate the conflict into a “world war.”
North Korea has already been supplying ammunition to Russia under a defense agreement, but the addition of troops on the ground could further complicate a conflict that has polarized international politics. Russian President Vladimir Putin, seeking support among BRICS countries, has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean troops in Russia.
