The foreign ministry stated it is closely observing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Moscow is preparing to host an additional 30,000 North Korean troops for the conflict with Ukraine. Zelensky mentioned that Russia is making arrangements to receive these troops in the Voronezh region since June.
Zelensky also asserted that Pyongyang is getting ready to transfer more ballistic missile launchers to Russia, although he did not provide any specific evidence to support his statements. The government, in a concise statement, mentioned that it is monitoring the situation but refrained from commenting on intelligence-related issues.
Government sources revealed no confirmed indications of a new deployment of North Korean troops yet. It is believed that North Korea has already sent approximately 20,000 troops and military engineers to assist Russia in its military operations, with an estimated 14,000 currently serving on the front lines, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Last week, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui visited Moscow and held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, sparking speculation about increased military connections between the two countries. North Korea initiated sending troops to Russia in October 2024 following a strategic partnership treaty signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang four months earlier.
Ukraine and its allies estimate that around 14,000 combat troops from North Korea have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region. Additionally, reports suggest that the total number of North Korean personnel in Russia has risen due to the inclusion of engineering and military construction units.
