Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Monday that Russia is actively preparing to station an additional contingent of North Korean troops on its territory. Furthermore, the Ukrainian leader reported that Moscow has received a new supply of ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. While Zelenskyy did not provide specific evidence or a concrete timeline for these developments, he emphasized that Russian forces are increasingly reliant on support from North Korea to sustain their ongoing war efforts.
"This is the first time they cannot wage war without supplements from North Korea," Zelenskyy remarked during his nightly address. He specifically urged South Korea and Japan to provide air defense assistance, noting that the North Korean forces are gaining valuable combat experience while fighting alongside Moscow, which only serves to strengthen their capabilities. Over the weekend, Zelenskyy estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops were slated for deployment on Russian soil, though he did not disclose the source of these figures.
The military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang has deepened significantly since Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense pact in June 2024. This cooperation was previously utilized in a Russian counteroffensive that successfully pushed Ukrainian forces out of the border Kursk region later that year. According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korea has suffered approximately 4,700 casualties, including both deaths and injuries, while fighting for Russia. The intelligence agency reported that about 600 North Korean soldiers were killed in action last year, with their remains cremated in Russia before being repatriated. Additionally, between January and March, roughly 2,000 injured soldiers were transported back to North Korea by air or train.
Beyond the immediate military conflict, North Korea’s economy appears to be seeing a recovery. According to an April report from South Korea’s unification ministry, Pyongyang has moved beyond a period of economic contraction as it strengthens diplomatic and trade ties with Russia and China. For years, rigid socialist planning, high military spending, and sweeping international sanctions aimed at curbing nuclear development had undermined the country's growth. However, the current relationships are now driving an improved economic outlook. Analysts suggest that the North is receiving economic and military technology assistance from Russia in return for sending troops and ammunition to help it fight in Ukraine.
At the weekend, Zelenskyy said a decision had been taken for 30,000-50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on Russian soil. He did not explain how he obtained the figures.
China has long been the diplomatically isolated country's main economic backer, though Pyongyang has also drawn closer to Moscow since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
