North Korea is sending its own men to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late on Sunday, the 13th of October, after Moscow-Pyongyang ties were strengthened by a defence pact signed in June during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 25 years, reports Politico.
“We can see that the alliance between Russia and regimes such as the North Korean regime is getting stronger and stronger,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. “It is no longer just about sending weapons. It is actually about sending people from North Korea to the occupying forces.”
South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-Hyun said earlier this month that since Russia and North Korea signed the defence treaty, North Korea has probably already sent and may send more troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian troops.
Ukrainian media reported in early October that North Korean soldiers had been killed after Kyiv forces bombed Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk.
“It is clear that in such circumstances our relations with our partners must develop,” he said.
In his speech on Sunday, Zelenskyy reiterated his call on Ukraine’s western allies to allow Kyiv to use long-range weapons on Russian territory, saying “We must act immediately to prevent Russia and its allies from adapting to our capabilities.”
“The front line needs more support. We are not talking about a simple list of military equipment, but about more long-range capabilities for Ukraine and more sustainable supplies for our forces,” Zelenskyy said in his address. “True peace can only be achieved through strength, and the whole of next week will be dedicated to working with our partners to achieve such strength and to achieve true peace.”
This week is an important one for Ukraine and its allies in the European Union (EU).
EU foreign ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday, where they are expected to discuss Zelenskyy’s victory plan. They will also seek to unblock EU funding for Ukraine, which Hungary has suspended. Budapest is also blocking plans by the EU, Washington and the G7 to give Ukraine a major loan.
EU heads of state and government will meet in Brussels this Thursday, with support for Ukraine on the agenda of the European Council summit.
Zelenskyy: North Koreans are fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine
