Zelenskyy Warns of Imminent Deployment of North Korean Troops by Russia

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that intelligence reports indicate Russia plans to deploy North Korean soldiers to combat zones in Ukraine within the next few days. According to Yonhap News Agency, Zelenskyy shared this information on the social media platform X, referencing a report from Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The intelligence suggests that the first group of North Korean troops could be positioned on the battlefield as soon as October 27-28, marking what Zelenskyy described as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. In his statement, Zelenskyy called for a "principled and strong response" from the international community, urging global leaders to address Russia's continued military actions in Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of not responding with indifference or tentative comments but instead applying substantial pressure on both Moscow and Pyongyang to adhere to the U.N. Charter and hold them accountable for this escalation. The deployment of North Korean soldiers has also been acknowledged by South Korea and the United States, with both countries asserting that North Korea has sent approximately 3,000 troops to eastern Russia, potentially for involvement in the conflict against Ukraine.