“North Korean Military Gaining Modern Warfare Experience, Becoming a Threat… Extremely Dangerous,”
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has claimed that North Korea might deploy an additional 20,000 to 25,000 troops to Russia, which has drawn attention.
According to local media such as the Kyiv Independent and RBC on the 2nd (local time), President Zelensky in an interview with AP on the previous day warned about the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea. He mentioned that information from various sources indicates more than 20,000 North Korean troops could be sent to Kursk. However, he did not specify when these troops might be deployed to the front lines.
He stated that the first batch of North Korean troops suffered significant losses and retreated to the rear lines but have been gaining modern warfare experience, becoming a threatening presence. “This is extremely dangerous for the U.S. and many countries in the region,” he said.
President Zelensky also revealed that on January 31st, Ukrainian forces launched an offensive in the Kursk area, targeting the Russian central command with missiles, which resulted in the deaths of many Russian and North Korean officers.
He stated, “We hit the central command in the Kursk direction yesterday (January 31st), and key Russian and North Korean officers were killed,” adding, “We used missiles and various types of weapons, and they lost dozens of officers.”
President Zelensky emphasized the necessity of noting that as the war prolongs, Russia is formally aligning with Iran and North Korea.
He mentioned, “For the first time in decades, Russia is formally showing alliance with Iran and North Korea. Previously, they exchanged technologies and weapons, but now they are actively purchasing and deploying them in the war.”
He further stressed, “Besides being nuclear-armed countries, these nations are highly conflict-driven and do not promote peace,” adding, “They have practically formed an alliance against the U.S., which is a very dangerous alliance.”
In November last year, North Korea deployed a force of about 11,000 troops to Russia. They were stationed at the Western Kursk front, occupied by Ukrainian forces, but suffered significant damage and recently retreated to the rear as per reports.
Western authorities estimate that the number of North Korean military casualties and missing personnel is around 4,000. Oleksandr Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Forces, stated in a recent media interview that North Korean forces have been reduced by nearly half within three months of their deployment.
President Zelensky reportedly mentioned in the interview, according to NK News—a U.S. media outlet specializing in North Korea—that North Korean commanders seem to treat their troops as “expendables” and frequently resort to summary executions to prevent retreats.
In August last year, Ukraine made a surprise incursion beyond the border and occupied parts of the Russian western Kursk border area, and Russia has been conducting operations to drive Ukrainian forces out of its territory.