Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that initial combat encounters with North Korean soldiers mark “a new chapter of instability in the world” during his evening address on 5 November.
“Terror can spread like a virus when it doesn’t meet sufficient resistance. Now, the resistance must become sufficient. Sufficiently strong,” Zelenskyy said in his video address.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence, approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently training in eastern Russia for deployment against Ukraine. South Korean intelligence has corroborated reports that Russia is preparing North Korean special forces for combat in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the presence of North Korean troops and their redeployment to Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the first combat engagements with North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces.
Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia has equipped these foreign troops with infantry weapons, including mortars, automatic rifles, machine guns, and rifles.
The Washington Post reports that Putin will offer Kim Jong Un money, military technology, and international attention in exchange for military personnel.
Read also:
- Ukraine says North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast receive combat drone training
- Reuters: South Korea confirms over 10,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia
- North Korea gets $200 mn, rice, space tech for joining Russia’s war in Ukraine
