Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised concerns about a deepening alliance between North Korea and Russia, alleging that North Korean citizens are being sent to assist Russian military forces in their ongoing conflict with Ukraine. In a video message on Sunday, Zelensky stated, “We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like North Korea. It is no longer just about transferring weapons; it is actually about transferring people from North Korea to the occupying military forces.”
Zelensky’s claims come as relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have grown more cordial. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea in June marked the first such trip in over 20 years, fueling speculation about North Korea’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Amid these developments, Zelensky emphasized the need for Ukraine to strengthen its ties with Western allies, urging them to provide long-range missile capabilities to target Russian forces effectively. A source within Ukrainian intelligence, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reported that a small number of North Koreans have been collaborating with the Russian military, primarily in engineering roles and sharing insights on North Korean ammunition. Some of these personnel have reportedly been killed in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin, however, dismissed Zelensky’s allegations, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling them “another hoax.” In contrast, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service indicated that it is monitoring the situation closely and considers the reports credible. South Korea’s Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun stated that it is “highly likely” that reports of North Korean casualties in Ukraine are accurate, and expressed concern about the potential for further deployment of North Korean troops, suggesting a mutual agreement akin to a military alliance between the two nations.
The possibility of North Korea supplying arms to Russia has been a subject of contention, with both countries denying these allegations despite significant evidence of arms transfers. Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ties between the two nations, both isolated from the West, have become increasingly robust. During Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, the leaders agreed to bolster military cooperation, pledging to provide mutual support in the event of an attack. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering solidarity with Russia, particularly in its efforts to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of international challenges.
