President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi reported, that Russia has recruited 11,000 troops from North Korea to participate in the war against Ukraine. This became known on November 19 during a joint briefing with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen.
Zelensky called on the world community to react to the increase in the number of North Korean soldiers on the territory of Russia, because without a proper reaction, there could be much more of them.
“Now Russia is using 11,000 North Korean soldiers. If the world does not react, their number may increase. In case of inaction, we will see these soldiers in other conflict zones as well.” he noted.
The US Department of Defense also confirmed information about the participation of the North Korean military in the war on the side of Russia. According to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers were transferred to the Kursk region. Earlier estimates of the number of this contingent ranged between 10,000 and 11,000.
Singh also emphasized that according to intelligence, North Korean forces are actively engaged in hostilities, and the Pentagon expects them to participate in further fighting.
