Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that there are currently more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory, and in return, North Korea is producing attack drones with Russia's technological support.

In an address to the nation on the afternoon of the 28th local time, President Zelenskyy revealed new intelligence regarding North Korean troops, stating, "There are more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory, and preparations are underway to deploy an additional 10,000 troops."

President Zelenskyy claimed, "In exchange for dispatching troops, Russia is providing technology and other support," adding, "Shahed-type attack drones are being produced in North Korean territory with Russia's technological assistance."

"This is how evil spreads, and how the threat to life expands to other regions," President Zelenskyy emphasized. "It can only be overcome by responding together."

President Zelenskyy did not make any mention regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea as of that day.

Previously, controversy arose after President Zelenskyy publicly revealed the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea during the UN General Assembly held in New York on the 23rd, leading to conflicting stances over whether there was a private agreement between South Korea and Ukraine.

The presidential office stated the previous day, "It is a serious issue that the Ukrainian side broke the private agreement and unilaterally disclosed the matter without prior consultation or even notification, and announcing the falsehood that 'there was no private agreement' severely damages trust between the two governments," demanding an official explanation and apology from Ukraine.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Andrii Beshkin, the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Ukrainian Embassy in South Korea, on that day to convey the government's stern position regarding the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners of war.