North Korean Troops Reportedly Deployed to Kursk Region
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have arrived in the Kursk border region of Russia. In his nightly address on Monday, Zelenskyy expressed his concerns regarding the lack of a robust response from Western nations, stating, “We see an increase in North Koreans, but we do not see an increase in the reaction of our partners.” He emphasized the urgent need for enhanced countermeasures to prevent North Korea from deploying its soldiers into the conflict.
The Ukrainian leader highlighted the critical importance of improving air defense systems, noting, “Everyone can see how much more Russians are using Shahed drones and aerial bombs. This terror is escalating every month. We need more countermeasures.” Reports from local media indicate that Ukrainian forces engaged North Korean soldiers in combat for the first time since their deployment alongside Russian forces in Kursk. If verified, this would represent the first direct involvement of a third army since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
Related
- Ukraine urges allies to stop ‘watching’ and take decisive action before North Korean troops reach the front lines.
- US intelligence indicates that around 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk region.
Since August, Ukrainian forces have successfully captured significant portions of Kursk following a surprise cross-border incursion into the Russian territory. In September, the Kremlin reported that Russian forces intensified their efforts in the region to reclaim lost territory.
