Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that Russia could deploy North Korean soldiers to the Ukrainian battlefield this weekend, which would escalate the ongoing conflict in the country. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian intelligence has identified that the first North Korean soldiers will be used by Russia in combat zones between Sunday and Monday.
This potential mobilization of North Korean soldiers has raised international concerns, as it is feared that it could transform the conflict into a 'world war,' according to Zelenskyy's statements. Russia has been accused of increasing the escalation of the conflict considering the alleged deployment of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine.
The United States previously reported that North Korea sent about 3,000 soldiers to Russia to participate in training, which was considered a serious action. In turn, Zelenskyy mentioned that his government had intelligence information indicating that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers could join Russian forces to fight in Ukraine.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR) has reported that North Korean units have been detected in the Kursk border region after receiving training at bases in eastern Russia and being equipped with proper winter clothing. It is estimated that around 12,000 North Korean soldiers may have been sent to Russia to join ongoing military actions, including officers and generals among their ranks.
The conflict in Ukraine has been one of the largest confrontations in European territory since World War II, with thousands of lives lost on both sides, including civilians. The entry of North Korean soldiers into the war theater could have geopolitical consequences in various regions, raising concerns in the international community.
