President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy Photo: Press service of the President of Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that North Korea had sent soldiers and weapons to help Russia in its war against Ukraine. This was reported by AFP and dpa news agencies.
“We are seeing a growing alliance between Russia and regimes like North Korea. This is no longer just about transferring weapons. It’s about sending people from North Korea to support the occupier’s armed forces,” Zelenskyy said in his daily address.
Zelenskyy stressed the importance of further strengthening relations with international partners. “The frontline needs more support,” he added, calling for more aid to Ukraine.
Despite the words of the Ukrainian president, there is currently no independent confirmation that North Korean soldiers are participating in the war on the side of Russia. In recent days, there have been reports of the possible presence of North Korean troops in eastern Ukraine, but there is no accurate information on their role or casualties.
The US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) recently claimed that thousands of North Korean soldiers have arrived in Russia and could be sent to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also stressed the need to increase the supply of long-range weapons to increase pressure on the aggressor and prevent an even larger war. Kyiv has repeatedly asked its Western allies to provide such missiles to strike important military targets in Russia.
On Thursday, the Kremlin denied claims by Kyiv and Seoul that North Korean soldiers were taking part in the conflict on the side of the Russian army, despite Western countries accusing Pyongyang of supplying Russia with ammunition and missiles.
In recent months, nuclear-armed North Korea has strengthened its military ties with Moscow. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang to sign a mutual defence agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
