Russian war of aggression: Zelensky calls for reaction to North Korea’s aid to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has described military cooperation between Russia and North Korea as a new escalation in Moscow’s war of aggression against his country. “We have to react and take countermeasures. We must not allow evil to continue to grow,” said Zelensky in his evening video message broadcast in Kiev. “If the world stays silent now and we are confronted with North Korean soldiers on the front lines as regularly as we defend ourselves against drones, it will benefit no one in the world and will only prolong this war.”

Moscow has been rejecting reports from South Korea and Ukraine, which also rely on satellite images, for days about the dispatch of up to 12,000 soldiers from North Korea to Russia. There has also been no confirmation from NATO or the USA that North Korea is sending soldiers to Russia as reinforcements.

However, Russia and North Korea had not only agreed on close military cooperation, but also on assistance in the event of external attacks. Therefore, such soldiers could be used in the defense of the Russian Kursk region, which was invaded by Ukraine. Kyiv has occupied dozens of locations in the Kursk area since the beginning of August.

Warning of “dangerous cooperation”

Zelensky spoke of an “evil alliance” and “dangerous cooperation” between Russia and North Korea. “Unfortunately, once North Korea learns the tactics of modern warfare, instability and threats could increase significantly,” he stressed. Ukraine’s allies must have an answer ready because another state is now participating in the war and this is becoming a new threat. So far, Putin has primarily relied on neighboring Belarus as a staging area for his war.

The war must be ended justly and as quickly as possible, said Zelensky. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression with Western military aid for almost 1,000 days.