Zelenskyy Says North Korea Is Sending Soldiers To Fight Alongside Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently shared some serious news about North Korea. He says North Korea is not just sending weapons to Russia; they are also sending soldiers to help in the war against Ukraine.

In a video address on Sunday night, Zelenskyy said, “We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like North Korea.” 

He made it clear that North Korea's help is more than just sending weapons. He believes North Korean soldiers are joining the Russian military in occupied parts of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy wants Ukraine’s allies to change how they respond to this growing problem. He thinks it is very important to give Ukraine more military support to stop a bigger conflict from happening. 

“The front line needs more support,” he explained. He believes that if Ukraine gets stronger weapons and supplies, it will put more pressure on Russia, making it harder for them to continue their attacks.

He mentioned, “When we talk about giving Ukraine greater long-range capabilities, it’s not just a list of military equipment.” He thinks these stronger weapons can help keep Russia from attacking more.

Zelenskyy has been asking for long-range missiles so Ukraine can hit military targets deep inside Russia. But so far, his requests have not been granted. He said, “True peace can only be achieved through strength.” He added that the next week will be focused on working with Ukraine’s partners to build this strength for real peace.

Last week, Western leaders were supposed to meet in Germany to talk about the situation. However, U.S. President Joe Biden postponed his trip because Hurricane Milton was approaching Florida. He is now expected to go to Germany this week, and the situation in Ukraine will be a major topic of discussion.

South Korea’s Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-hyun, supported Zelenskyy’s claims. He said there is a “high possibility” that North Korea is sending soldiers to help Russia fight in Ukraine. He also mentioned it is “highly likely” that reports about North Korean officers being killed in battles are true.

Russia has denied these claims, calling them “fake news.” Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in June. This was his first visit in 24 years. During this visit, he received a promise of “full support and solidarity” from Kim Jong Un for Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

Both the United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of giving weapons to Russia for the war. In April, United Nations officials said that debris from a missile that hit Kharkiv showed it came from North Korea. This missile was identified as a Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile.

The relationship between North Korea and Russia has become stronger since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently made a rare trip outside his country in September 2023. 

He traveled by train to eastern Russia. During this visit, he met with President Putin and visited military bases and arms factories.

The situation is tense, and the world is watching closely as North Korea gets more involved in the conflict. Zelenskyy’s calls for more military support show how urgent the situation is. What Ukraine’s allies decide to do next will be important for the future of this ongoing conflict