Zelensky warns North Korea could send up to 50,000 troops to Russia, urges South Korean air‑defence aid

Volodymyr Zelensky has told the public that North Korea may dispatch between 30,000 and 50,000 troops to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine. The figure represents a sharp rise from the 30,000 he estimated in July.

The comment was posted on X on Saturday, where he also said Kyiv had recovered North Korean missiles on Ukrainian soil, though he gave no details about where they were found or how the intelligence was gathered.

Growing Moscow‑Pyongyang ties

Russia and North Korea have deepened their partnership since Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June 2024, which contains a mutual assistance clause. Pyongyang has framed any troop deployment as support for a treaty ally.

If the numbers materialise, the reinforcement would give Russia a substantial boost in manpower while granting North Korean forces combat experience and exposure to Russian military technology – a development that could alter security calculations across Northeast Asia.

Existing North Korean presence

Ukrainian military intelligence previously estimated that about 14,000 North Korean soldiers have already been sent to Russia’s Kursk region, where they helped repel a Ukrainian incursion.

Later this month, a Ukrainian intelligence official told Reuters that a North Korean missile unit is moving into western Russia, possibly equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers intended for strikes against Ukraine.

Independent assessments indicate that Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long‑range artillery and multiple‑launch rocket systems. Russia has increasingly relied on ballistic missiles to exploit Ukraine’s shortage of high‑end air‑defence systems, which are hard to intercept.

Zelensky appeals to Seoul

The president used the same statement to call on South Korea for deeper cooperation, specifically requesting assistance with air‑defence systems. He said: "We would very much like to receive support from South Korea in an area where we have a shortage," and noted that Ukrainian diplomats are already in contact with Seoul about possible deals, including a proposed "Drone Deal".

Neither the North Korean embassy in Russia nor South Korea’s foreign ministry responded to requests for comment from Reuters outside business hours.

Implications

A further North Korean troop deployment would increase Russia’s reliance on foreign manpower and further internationalise the conflict. Ukraine’s immediate priority remains acquiring advanced air‑defence capabilities to counter the growing ballistic missile threat. South Korea’s response – whether it involves lethal aid, intelligence sharing or diplomatic pressure – will be closely watched by both Kyiv and Moscow as an indicator of how far Seoul is prepared to confront the deepening Russia‑North Korea axis.