Zelensky Urges Allies Not to “Watch and Wait” in the Face of North Korean Threats

Ukraine is currently facing one of the strongest offensives by Russian forces since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, with North Korean support forces also set to be deployed to the battlefield. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged allies to take action before the North Korean troops are deployed, rather than just “watching.”

According to reports from the Associated Press, Zelensky mentioned the possibility of Ukraine conducting preemptive strikes against North Korean training camps and stated that Ukraine knows the location of the North Korean forces. However, he also mentioned that Ukraine cannot use Western-made long-range weapons to strike targets within Russian territory without the permission of allies.

On November 1st, Zelensky posted on the social media platform Telegram, saying, “But on the contrary… the US is watching, the UK is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is waiting for the North Korean forces to start attacking Ukrainians.”

The US government stated on October 31st that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers have entered the Russian Kursk region near the Ukrainian border, preparing to assist Russia in attacking Ukraine in the coming days.

Ukrainian military intelligence revealed on November 2nd that over 7,000 North Korean soldiers equipped with Russian gear and weapons have been transported to areas near Ukraine. The North Korean supported soldiers are undergoing training in five locations in the Far East region.

Leaders of Western countries have described the deployment of North Korean troops as a significant escalation of the situation, which could also shake up relations in the Indo-Pacific region and open the door for Russia to transfer technology to North Korea, potentially exacerbating the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that under the guidance of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the country’s missile bureau successfully launched a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile called the “Hwasong-19” on October 31st.

According to KCNA, this new missile reached a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers, traveled a distance of 1,001.2 kilometers, and landed in the designated target area in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula after approximately 5,156 seconds (85.9 minutes) of flight.

Harry Kazianis, senior director at the Center for the National Interest in Washington, D.C., told Radio Free Asia that North Korea, in alliance with Russia, is acquiring increasingly dangerous missile technology. He believes that North Korea’s recent test launch largely proves this point.

Kazianis stated that North Korea appears to be receiving billions of dollars in economic aid, missile technology, and even nuclear technology from Russia.