North Korea prepares 10,000 more troops for Russia, Zelenskyy says

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ANKARA, Türkiye — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to send another 10,000 troops to Russia as military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens.

According to Reuters, Zelenskyy said more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers are already on Russian territory. He added that another 10,000 troops are being selected and trained before a possible deployment. The claim comes as Ukraine and South Korea continue to monitor North Korea’s expanding role in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy says new troops are being trained

Zelenskyy said the new North Korean contingent is going through selection and training before being sent to Russia.

The Ukrainian leader’s statement suggests that Pyongyang’s support for Moscow is no longer limited to ammunition or weapons transfers. Kyiv views North Korea’s involvement as a growing manpower contribution to Russia’s war effort.

The reported preparation of 10,000 additional troops could increase pressure on Ukrainian forces, particularly in areas where Russia has sought to reinforce manpower and maintain offensive capacity.

More than 8,000 North Korean troops already in Russia

Zelenskyy said more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia.

Ukrainian and South Korean estimates suggest that North Korea has sent between 14,000 and 15,000 soldiers to Russia since 2024. A significant number of them are believed to have been deployed in Russia’s Kursk region.

Kursk has become one of the most closely watched areas of the war after Ukrainian operations on Russian territory and continued fighting near the border zone.

Pyongyang’s support goes beyond personnel

North Korea has also been accused of supplying Russia with artillery ammunition, ballistic missiles and multiple-launch rocket systems.

Such support is important for Moscow because the war has created a heavy demand for ammunition and battlefield logistics. Russia’s high rate of artillery use has made external supply channels increasingly important.

For North Korea, military cooperation with Russia may offer diplomatic and strategic benefits. Pyongyang could gain political backing, economic support or access to military technology in return.

Prisoner transfer caused tension with Seoul

Zelenskyy’s remarks followed diplomatic tension between Kyiv and Seoul over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.

South Korea expressed concern that the transfer had been publicly disclosed. Seoul argued that Ukraine had not followed a confidentiality understanding between the two sides.

Ukraine said no such agreement existed. The dispute shows how the presence of North Korean soldiers in the war has become not only a military issue, but also a diplomatic one involving Kyiv, Seoul and Pyongyang.

Putin expands Russia’s armed forces

The report comes as Russia is also increasing the size of its own military.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on September 28 raising the authorized size of the armed forces by 15,500 personnel. The order brings the total strength of Russia’s armed forces to 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 active-duty service members.

It was the fourth decree signed by Putin in 2026 to expand Russia’s military personnel levels. The move reflects Moscow’s continuing need for manpower as the war in Ukraine stretches on.

War takes on a wider international dimension

North Korea’s reported troop deployments underline the growing international dimension of the war in Ukraine.

Russia is seeking additional manpower and weapons support from foreign partners, while North Korea is deepening its military relationship with Moscow. This partnership could affect the balance of manpower on the battlefield and complicate diplomatic efforts around the war.

For Ukraine, the possible arrival of another 10,000 North Korean troops would represent an additional military challenge. For Western countries and South Korea, it raises broader questions about sanctions enforcement, arms transfers and the long-term security implications of the Russia-North Korea partnership.

If confirmed, the new deployment would make North Korea’s direct role in Russia’s war more visible and more difficult for the international community to ignore.

WiseNewsPress.com