Zelenskyy says up to 50,000 North Korean troops could be sent to Russia

New Delhi: The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has said North Korea could send as many as 50,000 troops to Russia. He said a decision had reportedly been taken to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean personnel to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine. 

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said the figure was higher than the estimate of 30,000 North Korean troops he gave in July. He did not provide details on how Ukraine obtained the latest information, and said Ukrainian forces had found North Korean missiles on Ukrainian territory, without disclosing where they were recovered.

North Korea has already provided significant military support to Russia. An estimated 14,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, where they assisted Russian forces in pushing back a Ukrainian military operation in the area.

The two countries have also expanded their defence ties under a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un in June 2024. The agreement includes a provision for mutual assistance if either country faces external aggression.

North Korea’s involvement has extended beyond the deployment of troops. According to sources, Pyongyang has supplied Russia with large quantities of artillery and mortar ammunition, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems.

Ukraine’s military intelligence has also told Reuters that a North Korean missile unit has begun moving into western Russia. The unit could reportedly be equipped with 6 launchers and up to 120 ballistic missiles, which could potentially be used against Ukrainian targets.

For Kyiv, the growing North Korean role raises concerns not only about additional manpower and weapons reaching Russia, but also about Pyongyang gaining direct experience of modern warfare. Zelenskyy said North Korea could use its involvement in the conflict to learn from battlefield conditions and receive military capabilities and expertise from Russia.

At the same time, Zelenskyy has sought closer defence cooperation with South Korea, particularly in the area of air defence. He said Ukraine faces a shortage of such systems and would like Seoul’s support. Ukrainian diplomats are also in contact with South Korea over possible cooperation on drones and other areas.

The developments point to a widening international dimension to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with North Korea deepening its military partnership with Moscow while Ukraine looks to strengthen cooperation with South Korea.