Zelenskyy Claims Imminent Deployment of 10,000 More North Korean Troops... What Russia Offered in Return

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on September 28 (local time) that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russian territory, and preparations are underway to deploy an additional 10,000 troops.

In a national address, he explained regarding the additional troops that "selection work is underway to train and deploy them to Russia."

He further claimed, "Russia is providing technology and other support in exchange for the dispatch of North Korean troops," adding that "Shahed-style attack drones are being produced in North Korean territory under Russia's technical support."

"This is how evil spreads, and how threats to life in one region expand to another," President Zelenskyy emphasized. "Only by responding together can we overcome this."

However, President Zelenskyy did not mention the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.

Previously, when President Zelenskyy revealed the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war at the UN General Assembly held in New York, USA, on September 23, a truth dispute erupted over whether there had been a private agreement between South Korea and Ukraine regarding the matter.

While the Ukrainian side maintained that there was no private agreement regarding the repatriation, the South Korean presidential office stated, "It is a grave issue that the Ukrainian side broke the private agreement and unilaterally disclosed it without prior consultation or even notification, but announcing the false fact that 'there was no private agreement' severely damages trust between the two governments," demanding an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side continues to reiterate its 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, mentioning North Korean troops participating in the war in Ukraine on the side of Russia, stating, "North Korea is learning and arming itself through our war."

He further argued 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
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.