North Korean military personnel are being selected for deployment to Russia - Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing intelligence data, stated that North Korea is preparing to send nearly 10,000 more military personnel to Russia. According to him, there are currently more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers on Russian territory.
North Korean military personnel are being selected for dispatch to Russia — Zelenskyy
According to DW, Zelenskyy said this in his evening address on Monday, September 28. He relied on "new information" from the report of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to the President of Ukraine, North Korean military personnel are currently being selected for training and subsequent dispatch to Russia.
Zelenskyy also stated that the Russian authorities plan to increase the volume of recruiting foreigners to participate in the war against Ukraine.
"It is important that the governments of the countries from which Russia is recruiting people into its army take action against this. We will inform every government," he said.
According to South Korean intelligence estimates, North Korea has sent a total of about 15,000 military personnel to support Russia in the war. It is assumed that in return, Pyongyang is receiving money, military technologies, and security guarantees from Moscow.
In August, Zelenskyy said that the DPRK intended to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 military personnel to Russian territory.
Zelenskyy's new statement comes amid a disagreement that arose between Ukraine and South Korea a few days ago.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung sharply criticized the Ukrainian authorities, accusing Zelenskyy of violating a confidentiality agreement. This was prompted by Zelenskyy openly speaking about the transfer to Seoul of two North Korean soldiers captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the fighting in the Kursk region.
Zelenskyy's office, in turn, stated that there was no agreement between the two countries not to disclose this information. Seoul called this response a lie.
According to the Yonhap agency, on September 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea summoned the Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine. The Deputy Minister conveyed Seoul's firm position on this matter to the Ukrainian diplomat.