Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with South Korean television channel KBS, criticised the “zero” response of allies to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine, saying on Thursday, the 31st of October, that the weak response would encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to step up the contingent, reports Reuters.
Zelenskyy had already started publicly warning against North Korea’s involvement in the war on the 13th of October. The Western allies have described the move as an escalation but have not announced any retaliatory measures or that they intend to implement them.
“Putin is testing the West’s response… And I believe that after all these reactions Putin will make a decision and increase the contingent… The reaction that we have today is nothing, it is zero,” Zelenskyy said.
South Korea has offered intelligence assistance and more cooperation on the issue and is considering sending a military observer team to Ukraine, according to South Korean officials.
On Wednesday at the UN Security Council, the Ukrainian delegation named three North Korean generals it claims are with thousands of troops sent to Russia to help in the war in Ukraine.
Russia has not denied the involvement of North Korean troops in the war. North Korea initially denied its involvement, but is now defending the idea of deploying troops, saying that such action is in accordance with international law.
US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood told the Security Council on Thursday that
Washington had received information indicating that 8 000 North Korean troops were “currently” stationed in Russia’s southern Kursk region.
The US expects North Korean troops in the Kursk region to engage in fighting in the coming days, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
At a press conference with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and their South Korean counterparts, Blinken said Russia has trained North Korean soldiers in basic artillery, drone operations and basic infantry operations, saying it “fully intends” to use these forces in front-line operations.
They would become legitimate military targets if they were on the battlefield, Blinken said.
During the meeting, the US and South Korea discussed various options for a response. Austin said the US would announce new security assistance for Ukraine in the coming days.
The Kremlin had declined to comment on Thursday in response to a question on whether Russia is helping North Korea develop its missile and other military technology in exchange for its troops, after North Korea on Thursday conducted its longest intercontinental ballistic missile test to date.
Blinken said China should be concerned about what Russia might do to boost North Korea’s military capabilities, citing concerns about destabilising the region, and pointed to recent “robust” US discussions with Beijing. While the US and South Korea agree that China should do more to curb North Korea’s provocative actions, Beijing has so far repeatedly called for a de-escalation of the conflict and a political solution.
Zelenskyy also said in an interview that he was surprised by China’s “silence” on the deployment of North Korean forces.
He added that Ukraine had “clear information” that Russia had directly confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops to the West through intelligence channels.
“The Russian Federation discussed this issue with the West and confirmed that, yes, there are military personnel from North Korea who will fight against Ukraine,” he said.
The direct tone of Zelenskyy’s rhetoric signalled Ukraine’s growing frustration with Western support for Kyiv at a critical moment in its war with Russia.