Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army Oleksandr Syrskyi / Photo: UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES

The Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, spoke by phone on Thursday with General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. The talks focused on the international reaction to North Korean troops participating in military operations on the side of Russia, which is a growing concern for Western partners.

“We also exchanged views on the immediate and tough reaction of the international community to Moscow’s involvement of North Korean troops in combat operations,” Syrskyi said in a Facebook post.

According to the Financial Times, about 3,000 North Korean troops are stationed just 50 km from the border with Ukraine in the Kursk region. The information was confirmed by senior Ukrainian intelligence officials, the BBC Russian Service reported.

At the same time, the South Korean government said on Wednesday that the total number of North Korean troops in Russia is estimated at 11,000. According to Seoul, approximately 3,000 of them have already moved to western Russia, although they have not yet reached the war zone. The North Korean troops are wearing Russian uniforms and are armed with Russian weapons, and most of them are infantrymen.

This situation is causing concern both in Ukraine and among Western partners, who are calling for a decisive response to prevent North Korea from increasing its military support.