North Korea has sent between 30,000 and 50,000 troops to Russia. Russia is providing them with real combat experience and training, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Japanese media outlet HNK, excerpts of which were published by his press service.
The Koreans suffered their only significant losses during the Kursk operation, when they took part in fighting directly. After that, they decided not to enter Ukrainian territory.
“But they are learning, working with drones and drone operators, training with them. This is a major problem, especially for security in the Pacific region,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He added that he had seen an actual North Korean-made missile in Ukraine.
“I have not seen Chinese missiles. But I know their technologies are reaching Russia. The equipment they use comes from China, probably along with specialists and technologies,” he said.
- Supplies of troops to Russia from North Korea have continued since 2024. In the first year, Pyongyang sent about 14,000 people.
- North Korea is also providing the occupiers with weapons support.
- In addition, Koreans are working at Russian military factories. Bloomberg estimates the number of Koreans employed in Russia’s defence industry at 25,000.
- Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang is concealing the involvement of North Korean citizens in the war. Kim Jong Un has awarded soldiers who returned after taking part in the war against Ukraine.