Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said preparations are under way to deploy another 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia, as military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang continues to deepen.
In an address on September 28, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received new intelligence indicating that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently on Russian territory. He said another 10,000 troops were being selected for training before being transferred to Russia.
The claim has not been independently confirmed. Zelenskyy did not give a timetable for the reported deployment or say where the additional personnel would be sent.
North Korea has already sent thousands of military personnel to Russia and its troops have fought alongside Russian forces, particularly in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion in 2024.
Russia and North Korea acknowledged in April 2025 that North Korean forces had taken part in combat in the Kursk region. The deployment marked a major expansion of military cooperation between the two countries.
Estimates of the number of North Korean personnel sent to Russia have varied. Reuters reported Ukrainian and South Korean estimates of about 14,000 to 15,000 troops since 2024, while South Korean military intelligence has separately estimated that more than 16,000 personnel have been sent since October 2024. These figures refer to cumulative deployments and should not be confused with Zelenskyy's estimate of more than 8,000 troops currently on Russian territory.
The number of North Korean troops currently serving in Russia is difficult to establish because of casualties and other movements since the initial deployments. There is also no independent confirmation that the additional 10,000 personnel mentioned by Zelenskyy have begun moving into Russia.
The latest claim follows an earlier statement by Zelenskyy in August that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to support Russia. South Korean authorities at the time said they had detected signs that North Korea could be preparing for another deployment, but had not seen evidence that a new deployment was imminent.
Zelenskyy's latest statement therefore provides a more specific figure, but it remains an assessment from Ukraine rather than confirmed evidence of a new troop movement.
The Ukrainian president also said Russia was providing North Korea with technology in return for its military support. He specifically claimed that production of Shahed type attack drones had been established in North Korea with technical assistance from Russia.
North Korea's military support for Russia has extended beyond personnel. Ukraine and independent assessments have reported that Pyongyang has supplied Russia with large quantities of artillery ammunition, ballistic missiles and other military equipment.
The relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang is also supported by a formal treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June 2024. The agreement includes provisions for military assistance under specified circumstances.
Zelenskyy has also called on South Korea to provide more support for Ukraine's air defence. South Korea announced a 100 million dollar aid package for Ukraine in July, but has not provided lethal weapons to Ukraine.
The issue of North Korean involvement has received further attention following Ukraine's recent transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The soldiers were captured on the Ukraine Russia battlefield in early 2025 and were later transferred to South Korea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also signed a decree on September 28 increasing the authorised strength of the Russian armed forces by 15,500 personnel to 2,441,630, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The move came as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. The Kremlin has rejected claims that Russia is preparing a new general mobilisation.
For now, the reported deployment of another 10,000 North Korean personnel remains unconfirmed outside Ukraine's assessment. The exact number of North Korean troops currently in Russia, the timing of any new deployment and the roles they would perform remain unclear.