Zelensky Accuses North Korea of Sending Soldiers to Fight in Ukraine
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused North Korea of sending not only weapons but also soldiers to Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian conflict, Al Jazeera reports.
“We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like North Korea. This is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about transferring people from North Korea to the occupying military forces,” Zelenskyy claimed on Sunday.
He once again reiterated his plea for increased military support from Western partners. Zelenskyy has consistently appealed to them to allow Ukraine to use longer-range missiles to target military facilities deep within Russia, a move which Moscow warned against, saying that it would involve NATO in the war.
While Western leaders were scheduled to meet in Germany last week to discuss this request, US President Joe Biden postponed his trip due to Hurricane Milton. He is now expected to travel to Germany this week.
South Korea’s Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun claimed last week that there was a “high possibility” of North Korean soldiers participating in the Ukraine war. He also indicated that reports of North Korean officers being killed in a Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied territory were “highly likely.”
Russia has denied these claims as “fake news.”
The relationship between North Korea and Russia has intensified since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare visit outside his country in September 2023, traveling by train to eastern Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin and visit military bases and arms factories. Putin, in turn, visited Pyongyang in June, marking his first trip to the country in 24 years.
