North Korean sends soldiers, weapons to reinforce Russia

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, on Sunday, raised alarm that North Korea has sent soldiers and weapons to support and reinforce Russia in the fight against Ukraine.

According to Zelensky, “We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like North Korea.

“This is no longer just about transferring weapons.

“It is actually about transferring people from North Korea to the occupying military forces.’’

There has been no independent confirmation that North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian troops against Ukraine.

In recent days, there have been reports of the deployment of North Korean soldiers in eastern Ukraine.

However, when it came to soldiers killed in action, it has not been conclusively shown whether all the deceased were members of the regular Russian troops or not.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S. military think tank, recently reported that several thousand North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia and were being prepared for deployment in Ukraine.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has been supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022, with weapons and ammunition.

According to a report by the South Korean intelligence service, Pyongyang supplies artillery shells and short-range missiles to Russia.

Zelensky intended to discuss this development with his country’s Western partners in the near future.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and has since been waging a destructive war in the neigbouring country, responding promptly to the interference of the U.S., NATO and the entire West, in their support for Ukraine.

dpa/NAN