Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that North Korea is actively involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with intelligence reports indicating that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers are already stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, with numbers expected to rise to 12,000. This escalation, Zelensky disclosed in an interview with South Korea’s KBS, follows Russia’s own confirmation to Western nations that North Korean troops are participating in the conflict—not merely providing munitions or technical aid, but with actual boots on the ground.
“Two states are officially at war against Ukraine,” Zelensky remarked, emphasizing the gravity of North Korea’s military involvement alongside Russia. This presence, he explained, extends beyond the Kursk region, with some North Korean forces reportedly stationed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Although no direct clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean forces have yet occurred, Zelensky indicated it is likely “a matter of days, not months.”
The recent surge of Russian and North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast aligns with Moscow’s renewed momentum in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, where Russia has achieved advances not seen since the initial months of the invasion. This intensified Russian effort has led the U.S. to call on China to leverage its influence with North Korea, with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reportedly pressing Beijing to convince Pyongyang to withdraw its forces from the region, according to a U.S. official cited by CNN.
Ukrainian intelligence is reportedly skeptical of the combat readiness of North Korean troops, pointing to logistical and communication issues with their Russian counterparts. Yet, Kyiv is preparing for the possibility of direct encounters. A South Korean delegation is expected to arrive in Ukraine later this week to discuss intelligence on North Korea’s troop movements and explore avenues for cooperation in countering the growing alliance.
North Korea’s involvement reflects an increasing alignment with Moscow, pushing the war into a broader geopolitical confrontation and raising tensions among Western and Asian allies alike.
