Zelenskyy: North Korean Troops Ready to Join Russian Forces in Ukraine

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Facts

  • In a post on Telegram on Friday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that North Korean troops were ready 'to be used by Russia in combat zones' in Ukraine between Sunday and Monday.[1]
  • According to Ukrainian authorities, the North Korean troops include 500 officers and three generals, who have been receiving training at five military training grounds set up in the country's east.[2]
  • This comes as Ukraine published footage appearing to show North Korean soldiers receiving Russian military uniforms and equipment last week. While North Korea hasn't confirmed the reports, in a statement on Friday, it claimed that any such deployment would 'be in accordance with international law.'[3][4][5]
  • Similarly, White House national security spokesman John Kirby didn't directly confirm the deployment, however, he said that 'it is possible' that about 3K North Korean soldiers had been sent to Russia 'for outfitting and for training.'[6]
  • South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported that 3K North Korean soldiers had been sent to Russia by Oct. 23, adding that the North plans to send up to 12K troops to aid Russia.[7]
  • North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defense pact in June, which includes a clause for military assistance if either country is attacked.[8][9]

Sources: [1]Newsweek, [2]Euronews, [3]Associated Press (a), [4]CNN, [5]TASS (a), [6]Associated Press (b), [7]Mediazona, [8]TASS (b) and [9]NBC.

Narratives

  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by TASS. Even if these unsubstantiated claims were true, the deployment of North Korean troops to aid Russia would conform to international norms. Regardless, there is no concrete evidence of North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine. The focus should remain on diplomatic solutions and de-escalation rather than fueling further tensions based on unverified reports.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Council on Foreign Relations. The presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine is a matter of grave concern and only serves to expand the security implications of Russia's brutal and illegal war beyond Europe and into the Indo-Pacific. The international community must take immediate action to prevent further escalation of conflict and protect Ukraine's sovereignty.

Predictions