Ukraine claims that North Korea is preparing to send tens of thousands more troops to Russia, where they would gain valuable battlefield experience. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged South Korea to work more closely with Kyiv in response.
The claim, reported by DW, says the additional North Korean soldiers would be deployed to Russia for the purpose of gaining combat experience. The exact number is not specified, but the reports describe it as involving "tens of thousands" of personnel. This would mark a further level of involvement by North Korea in the conflict, with potential implications for the war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy's appeal to South Korea calls for closer cooperation between the two countries. The appeal suggests Ukraine is seeking additional international support as it faces the challenge of North Korean forces reportedly operating alongside Russian troops.
No further details have been provided about the timing or conditions of the reported deployment. The reports raise the question of what such a surge would mean for the course of the war.