00:00Zelensky warns of 50,000 North Korean troops, calls on South Korea for arms support.
00:06Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that the number of North Korean
00:11troops deployed to support Russian forces is significantly higher than previously estimated,
00:16now reaching up to 50,000 compared to the 30,000 figure he cited in July 2026.
00:23In a series of public statements, Zelensky confirmed the presence of North Korean ballistic
00:28missiles on Ukrainian territory and urged South Korea to consider providing or selling
00:33weapons to Ukraine to counter Russian and North Korean forces, North Korea's expanding military
00:39role. Reports from Ukrainian intelligence indicate that Russia has received up to 150 North Korean
00:47KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles since late 2023. These missiles have been used in recent Russian
00:54strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. On August 14 alone, 24 ballistic missiles,
01:01several cruise missiles, and 115 drones struck Ukrainian territory, killing at least 17 people.
01:09Russian forces have also deployed up to 120 North Korean missiles, with six launchers in
01:14combat operations on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate has confirmed that
01:20approximately 90 North Korean military personnel have been deployed to the Voronezh region in western
01:25Russia to support ballistic missile operations. This marks a major escalation in North Korea's direct
01:31involvement in the war, transitioning from weapons supplier to military participant.
01:36The Russian-North Korea Alliance Military analysts and the Institute for the Study of War
01:42Note that North Korea is receiving battlefield data from its cooperation with Russia, allowing Pyongyang to
01:48improve its missile technology through real-world operational experience. This partnership has deepened
01:54significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022, with North Korea supplying millions of
02:00artillery shells and missiles. According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, FDD, Russia has paid
02:07North Korea over $22 billion in cash and material aid since 2022, making Pyongyang a significant military
02:15and economic partner for Moscow. The 2024 mutual defense treaty between Putin and Kim Jong-un has further
02:22formalized this relationship. Zelensky's Appeal to South Korea
02:26In his address, Zelensky called on South Korea to open operational cooperation with Ukraine, particularly in drone
02:34technology and other defense sectors. He noted that Ukraine is facing critical shortages and would benefit from
02:40South Korean support. The Ukrainian ambassador is reportedly in contact with Seoul to discuss potential
02:46agreements. South Korean officials have not publicly responded to Zelensky's request, but have expressed concern over
02:53Russia-North Korea military cooperation, stating that it directly affects South Korea's security and violates UN Security
03:00Security Council resolutions. Seoul is closely monitoring developments while maintaining its current policy of
03:06non-lethal assistance to Ukraine. New reports of North Korean female troops
03:11Recent reports indicate that North Korea has also deployed female troops to Russia. These women are reportedly
03:18working in kitchens and farms in Russia, earning around $4 per hour and sending the majority of their wages back
03:25to
03:25families in North Korea. They are not permitted to travel freely within Russia, operating under strict
03:31Pyongyang directives. Observers see this as an effort to boost Russia's wartime economy and provide North Korean
03:38citizens with much-needed foreign currency. Conclusion The deployment of up to 50,000 North Korean troops and the
03:47deepening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang represent a significant escalation of the Ukraine conflict. As Russian
03:55forces continue to rely on North Korean artillery, missiles, and manpower, Ukraine faces a multi-front war
04:01against an expanding coalition. Zelensky's call for South Korean arms support highlights Kyiv's need for
04:07additional resources as the war enters its fifth year.
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