North Koreans for war?: Zelensky fears North Koreans will soon be deployed in war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects Russia to use North Korean soldiers in its war of aggression from Sunday or Monday. “This is a clear escalation,” said Zelenskyj on the short message service X. He cited intelligence information according to which the soldiers would be deployed in the combat zone from October 27th or 28th. This clearly shows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to continue the war.

This week, the Kremlin chief did not deny reports of the deployment and training of North Korean soldiers and referred to military cooperation agreed with Pyongyang. At the same time, he once again emphasized Russia’s willingness to negotiate a solution to the conflict.

In view of the new threat posed by soldiers possibly fighting alongside Russia, Zelensky called for “a principled and strong response from world leaders.” There needs to be noticeable pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang.

Putin: North Korea and Russia are sovereign states

Putin had previously said that it was Russia’s business who it cooperated with militarily. North Korea and Russia are sovereign states. Russian state media also quoted Putin on Friday as saying that Ukraine ultimately also chooses its partners in the West. “We are repeatedly told that it is up to Ukraine how it ensures its security – with or without NATO,” Putin said in an interview on Russian state television.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) described the reports about the troop relocation as “very worrying”. “You can’t underestimate that,” he told journalists during his trip to India.

Russia also started its war against Ukraine on the grounds that its security was threatened by Kiev’s planned NATO membership. Moscow repeatedly complains that the West is not taking its concerns seriously. In the interview, Putin expressed the hope that there might be a change in the West’s attitude towards Russia. “The sooner they recognize the lack of prospects of this approach with regard to Russia, the better for everyone – and especially for themselves.”

Ukrainian secret service: North Koreans already in Kursk

According to findings from the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, the first soldiers from North Korea have arrived in the embattled Russian region of Kursk. The units had previously been trained at military training areas in eastern Russia, the secret service said in its Telegram channel. Their arrival in the Kursk area, where Ukrainian troops have occupied dozens of towns after their invasion at the beginning of August, was registered on Wednesday.

In Kursk, the North Koreans could support Russian troops in their fight to liberate the region from Ukrainian units. At the end of the Brics summit in Kazan on Thursday, Putin said that the Ukrainian troops there were under pressure. He also said that Russia and North Korea had concluded an all-encompassing strategic partnership agreement that also included military cooperation. It was also agreed that mutual assistance should be provided in the event that a country is attacked.

Ukraine: 12,000 North Koreans in Russia

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that there are currently around 12,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia, including 500 officers and 3 generals from Pyongyang. Kiev fears that the troops will be used in the invasion of Ukraine – for Pyongyang also with the aim of gaining experience in modern warfare. The USA, however, reported that it had knowledge of 3,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia. However, it is unclear what purpose they are there for.

According to information from Kiev, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov will be responsible for coordinating the operation. Experts had previously pointed out problems, including, above all, language barriers. The North Koreans were provided with ammunition, bed linen, winter clothing and shoes as well as hygiene products, including 50 meters of toilet paper and 300 grams of soap per month, the HUR in Kiev said.

Strategic Partnership Agreement

In the interview with state television, Putin emphasized that article four in the treaty on the strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang still needs to be fleshed out. It is the right of both countries to hold maneuvers, make military preparations and transfer experiences. “This is our business,” emphasized Putin. South Korea, which also made public and sharply criticized the transfer of soldiers from North Korea, sees this as a violation of the UN Charter.

Article four of the Russia-North Korea Treaty states: “If one of the Contracting Parties is exposed to an armed attack by one State or States and is therefore in a state of war, the other Contracting Party shall immediately provide military and other assistance using all means at its disposal In accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

Overall, Putin says he currently sees no will on the Ukrainian side to find a solution to the conflict. “We are ready to look for compromises,” Putin said. But he is not ashamed to say that a solution based on the real situation on the battlefield is possible only “to the advantage” of Russia; there will be no concessions to Ukraine.