Zelensky says Russia seeks 30,000 extra North Korean troops for Ukraine war — SkimNews
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- Zelensky said Russia is seeking an additional 30,000 North Korean troops, with preparations underway since June in Russia's Voronezh region near the Ukrainian border.
- North Korea is also preparing to transfer additional ballistic missile launchers to Russia, with Zelensky warning the deployment threatens all Asian nations within missile range.
- South Korea estimates that approximately 2,000 North Korean troops have already been killed fighting for Russia in the war.
- North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow this week to reaffirm Pyongyang's support for Russia's invasion, following the 2024 military assistance treaty between the two countries.
- Russia has provided North Korea with cash, military technology, and food and energy commodities in exchange for its military aid, helping Pyongyang overcome international sanctions.
- Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea's support in a video released ahead of Choe Son Hui's visit.
Why it matters: Russia's request for 30,000 more troops signals a deepening transactional alliance in which Moscow trades cash, military technology, and energy for Pyongyang's soldiers and missiles. With 2,000 North Korean troops already confirmed killed, the scale of manpower Russia is willing to expend through foreign replacements is stark, and the arms-for-troops pipeline directly helps North Korea circumvent international sanctions.
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