Zelenskyy: North Korea Gaining Combat Experience in Russia; Ukraine Seeks Military-Technical Cooperation With Japan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described North Korea's troop deployment to Russia as a "major problem for Pacific security" and expressed hope for military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Japan in an interview with a Japanese broadcaster on the 17th (local time).

Following the interview with NHK, President Zelenskyy posted the interview content on his X (formerly Twitter) account to emphasize it once again.

In the interview, President Zelenskyy claimed, "North Korea has sent 30,000 to 50,000 troops to Russia," adding, "This is a very big problem, especially in terms of security in the Pacific region."

He noted that apart from direct combat with Ukrainian forces during the Kursk operation, the North Korean troops deployed to Russia have not suffered heavy losses. "For North Korea, they are deploying troops without paying a heavy price and are learning [from the war] before returning," he said.

North Korean troops are known to have contributed to the Russian military's recapture of Kursk, Russian territory that Ukrainian forces had previously controlled.

President Zelenskyy claimed that North Korean troops have decided not to enter Ukrainian territory hereafter and are instead training alongside drones and drone operators.

He also stated that he had seen actual North Korean-made missiles in Ukraine.

"We have not seen Chinese-made missiles in Ukraine," President Zelenskyy said, while adding, "We know that Chinese technology is flowing into Russia."

He further speculated, "The equipment Russia uses is coming from China, and personnel and technology are likely coming along with it as well."

At the same time, he argued, "Although China could find ways to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiating table, it is not doing so," adding, "If powerful leaders, including China, step in, this war can be stopped immediately."

He also stated, "China is a bit closer to Russia's side," and "It is a problem that China is not standing in the middle."

Regarding Japan, President Zelenskyy said, "We very much want to establish military-technical cooperation relationships between governments and between companies."

Mentioning maritime surveillance, intelligence, demining drones, air defense, cybersecurity, and food security, he added, "If we focus on the defense industrial base, we will be able to expand the scale of bilateral trade."

President Zelenskyy said he "wanted to sign a drone agreement" with Japan, adding, "It is a matter for Japan to decide."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.