Ukrainian, South Korean leaders agree to share intel on North Korean troop deployment to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he recently held a phone conversation with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, where they discussed reports of North Korean troops arriving in Russia.

"We discussed the involvement of North Korean military personnel," stated Zelenskyy, noting that this development is "internationalising the conflict and extending it beyond two countries," Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Zelenskyy disclosed that he shared Ukrainian intelligence with President Yoon, indicating that 3,000 North Korean soldiers have reportedly arrived at Russian training grounds close to the conflict zone. Ukrainian officials believe that the number of North Korean troops could increase to 12,000 in the future.

"We agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing and expertise," Zelenskyy remarked. He added that Kyiv and Seoul will intensify contacts at all levels to develop an action strategy, a list of countermeasures, and plans to engage joint partners.

"As part of this agreement, Ukraine and the Republic of Korea will soon exchange delegations to coordinate actions," the statement reads.

Notably, North Korea has reportedly deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia for training, with the expectation that some may soon be involved in combat against Ukraine, the Pentagon revealed on October 28. Western leaders caution that this move could further escalate the nearly three-year conflict and strain relations across the Indo-Pacific region.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed that some North Korean forces have already advanced towards Ukraine, specifically the Kursk region, where Russia has faced Ukrainian resistance. Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also acknowledged recent Ukrainian intelligence, suggesting that North Korean military units are already present in the Kursk area.

The addition of North Korean troops is expected to intensify pressures on Ukraine’s forces and heighten tensions across the Korean Peninsula, with potential repercussions for countries such as Japan and Australia.

Analysts note that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears focused on challenging Western influence globally, highlighted by last week's BRICS summit in Russia, which included China and India. Moscow has sought military support from Iran, receiving drones, and from North Korea, which has provided substantial ammunition supplies, according to Western sources.

By Aghakazim Guliyev