Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said North Korea has agreed to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 soldiers to Russian territory, significantly expanding Pyongyang's military involvement after a missile unit began deploying to western Russia earlier this week.
Zelensky, speaking in a televised interview on Saturday, warned that the North Korean contingent would gain modern warfare experience under Russian command, posing a potential threat to other Asian nations. He urged South Korea to deepen cooperation with Kyiv, including a swap of air-defence systems for drone technology. In return for the troop deployment, Zelensky said North Korea would receive military licences and equipment from Moscow.
Zelensky also cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin may resort to a mass mobilisation conducted covertly, and noted that Russia has established three rings of air defence around Moscow. He claimed Russian losses from a recent Ukrainian operation totalled one trillion roubles.