Zelenskyy: Russia Preparing to Deploy Additional North Korean Troops, Ballistic Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that Russia is preparing to deploy additional North Korean forces on its territory and has received further North Korean ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned of deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang and urged allies to supply Kyiv with more air defense systems.

What Zelenskyy said about Russian reliance on North Korea

In his evening address, Zelenskyy said: “This is the first time they cannot wage war without support from North Korea,” referring to Russian forces.

He added: “They are now preparing to deploy an additional force of North Koreans on their territory,” and confirmed that Russia had received “additional ballistic missiles from North Korea.”

Numbers cited without supporting evidence or timeline

Zelenskyy did not provide evidence or a timeframe to substantiate these claims.

He also called on Japan and South Korea to deliver air defense assistance, stressing the need to curb Pyongyang’s growing military capability—enhanced by operational experience gained through support provided to Moscow.

Zelenskyy said on Sunday that “a decision was made to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans on Russian territory.”

He did not explain how he arrived at those figures.

Background of Russia–North Korea military cooperation

North Korea has intensified its relations with Russia since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

In 2024, during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea, the two countries signed a defense agreement.

Later that year, Moscow deployed North Korean forces in a counteroffensive aimed at driving Ukrainian troops out of the Russian border region of Kursk.