Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in Kyiv on Wednesday, September 16 that North Korea has sent 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers to Russia for battlefield training during the ongoing conflict, particularly in the field of drone warfare.
Zelenskyy, in an interview with NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) on Wednesday, told reporters, “North Korea has sent 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers to Russia. Russia has provided them with the opportunity to gain real combat experience and undergo training, not just in digital simulators but in actual environments.”
He pointed out that this arrangement comes at a relatively low cost for North Korea. They are able to deploy troops, allow their personnel to gain experience, and then withdraw without suffering major losses, except for one instance.
“For North Korea, this is not expensive. They just need to do this: deploy, learn, and then withdraw. Apart from the one time they directly engaged with us during military operations in Kursk, they have had little to no major losses,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian President revealed that since then, North Korean forces have avoided engaging in combat on Ukrainian territory to prevent further losses. However, they continue to conduct training for drone operations and drone operators.
Zelenskyy also mentioned this issue on social media on Wednesday, emphasizing that it is a significant issue with widespread implications, particularly for security in the Pacific region.
According to Zelenskyy’s assessment, the cooperation between Russia and North Korea not only involves military presence but also includes the exchange of modern warfare combat experience, especially in the use of drones.
The Ukrainian President believes that Russia transferring battlefield expertise, including drone warfare, to North Korea could pose additional security challenges for the Pacific region.
Furthermore, Ukrainian State News Agency (UNN) reported on Wednesday that Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denied on Wednesday the claims that Pyongyang planned to send up to 50,000 additional troops to Russia to assist its Russian ally in combat.