Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on September 28 local time that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russian territory, with preparations underway to deploy an additional 10,000 personnel.
In a national address, he explained regarding the additional troops that "selection work is underway to train and deploy them to Russia."
He also claimed that "Russia is providing technology and other compensation in exchange for North Korean troop deployment," adding that "Shahed-style attack drones are being produced on North Korean territory under Russian technical support."
Zelenskyy emphasized, "This is how evil spreads, and how the threat to life in one region extends to another," adding, "We can overcome this only by responding together."
However, Zelenskyy did not mention the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
Previously, when Zelenskyy publicly revealed the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea during the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23, a truth dispute arose over whether there was a private agreement between South Korea and Ukraine regarding the matter.
While the Ukrainian side claimed there was no private agreement regarding the repatriation, the South Korean presidential office stated, "It is a serious issue that the Ukrainian side broke the private agreement and unilaterally disclosed it without prior consultation or even notification, but announcing the falsehood that 'there was no private agreement' severely damages trust between the two governments," demanding an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.
The Ukrainian side has repeatedly emphasized its existing stance that the combat experience of North Korean troops could pose a threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine also posted on social media regarding North Korean troops participating in the Ukraine war on Russia's side, stating, "North Korea is learning and arming itself in our war."
He further claimed that this behavior by North Korean troops is "above all, to prepare for active combat in their own region."
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Kihyun | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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