Zelensky: North Korea poised to send 10,000 troops to aid Russia in Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a stark warning, claiming that North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 troops to bolster Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. Speaking in Brussels, Zelensky said, “We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea, that they are preparing to send to fight against us.” This would mark a significant escalation in military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Although U.S. officials have confirmed increased material support from North Korea, including artillery shells and missiles, reports of North Korean personnel being sent to Ukraine remain under evaluation. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell acknowledged the growing military ties but stopped short of verifying troop involvement.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who spoke alongside Zelensky, said there was “no evidence” yet to confirm North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Russia has also dismissed the reports, calling them “one more fake.”

If confirmed, the deployment would reflect a deepening alliance between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following their June agreement to provide mutual military assistance. Washington and Seoul have accused Pyongyang of sending weapons to Russia in exchange for aid, which has helped North Korea’s struggling economy and boosted its weapons development programs—allegations both Russia and North Korea deny.

Zelensky’s comments come amid growing pressure from Western governments, where public support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia has waned after more than two-and-a-half years of conflict. On Wednesday, Zelensky presented his “victory plan” to lawmakers in Kyiv, reaffirming his refusal to make territorial concessions or allow the conflict to be frozen.