![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6fee036e6c9413e8b1fded471c31b7d3.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers will be deployed to fight for Russia, while calling on South Korea to provide support for its air defence.<\/p>\n
Mr Zelenskyy said on X on Saturday that “a decision has been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on the territory of Russia”, a higher figure than his estimate of 30,000 in July. He did not elaborate on how he obtained the information.<\/p>\n
He said Kyiv had found some North Korean missiles in Ukraine’s territory, without disclosing their locations.<\/p>\n
“It is absolutely clear that North Korea will continue to build its experience in modern warfare, receive licenses from Russia, and receive all kinds of military tools from them,” he said.<\/p>\n
Urging Seoul to have closer cooperation with Kyiv, Mr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine “would very much like to receive support from South Korea in an area where we have a shortage”, referring to its air defence systems.<\/p>\n
“We are ready to work on the Drone Deal and other areas as well,” he said, adding that Ukrainian diplomats “are in contact” with Seoul to push potential deals.<\/p>\n
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty during Mr Putin’s June 2024 visit to Pyongyang. The pact includes a mutual assistance provision if either country faces external aggression.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un meet in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024. (Reuters: Sputnik\/Gavriil Grigorov)<\/p>\n
North Korea has cast its deployment as assistance to a treaty partner.<\/p>\n