Zelenskyy Alleges Russia's Bold New Move: North Korean Troops on Russian Soil

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is intensifying its military collaboration with North Korea, asserting that Moscow is preparing to deploy an additional contingent of North Korean troops on its territory and has received further ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. Zelenskyy highlighted this deepening alliance in a recent address, emphasizing that Russia is now reliant on North Korean assistance to sustain its war efforts, a situation he described as unprecedented. While the Ukrainian leader did not provide direct evidence or a specific timeframe for these claims, he has consistently appealed to Western allies for increased air-defense supplies to counter this growing threat.

The claims of North Korean troop deployment are not new. Zelenskyy previously stated that a decision had been made to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans on Russian soil, although he did not elaborate on how he obtained these figures. In response to these developments, Zelenskyy urged Japan and South Korea to provide air defense aid, arguing that it is crucial to curb Pyongyang's military strength, which he noted is gaining experience by supporting Moscow's military operations.

The military partnership between Russia and North Korea has significantly strengthened since Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defence pact in June 2024. This pact formalized a closer military alliance, which reportedly saw Moscow utilize North Korean troops in a counteroffensive later that year. This counteroffensive successfully pushed Ukrainian forces out of the border Kursk region, indicating the direct involvement of North Korean personnel in combat operations.

Further details regarding North Korean involvement emerged from South Korean intelligence. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) informed lawmakers that approximately 600 North Korean troops were killed fighting for Russia against Ukrainian forces. The NIS also reported that North Korea has suffered around 4,700 casualties, including both injuries and deaths. Between January and March, about 2,000 injured soldiers were repatriated to North Korea via air or train. In a notable incident on January 11, 2025, Ukrainian forces reportedly captured two North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk region. According to the intelligence agency, the remains of deceased North Korean soldiers were cremated in Russia before being sent back to their home country. Pyongyang has since confirmed for the first time its decision to send troops to aid Russia in recapturing parts of the Kursk region, which Ukraine had previously gained control of in a surprise incursion.

Beyond military cooperation, North Korea's economy is showing signs of recovery, attributed by South Korea's unification ministry to its deepening trade and diplomatic ties with Russia and China. For years, North Korea's economy suffered under rigid socialist planning, high military spending, and extensive international sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear weapons development. While China has historically been Pyongyang's primary economic supporter, the relationship with Moscow has grown particularly close since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

These reinforced relationships are now contributing to an improved economic outlook for North Korea, with the South Korean ministry suggesting that the North has