Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on November 4 that 11,000 North Korean soldiers are now stationed in Russia’s Kursk region.
This information followed high-level briefings with Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Anatolii Barhylevych, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov regarding Ukraine’s ongoing operations in Kursk.
Ukraine’s military and foreign intelligence services also informed Zelenskyy of the presence of North Korean forces within Russian territory.
“There are now 11,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in Kursk,” Zelenskyy confirmed.
“We are witnessing a rise in North Korean forces on Russian soil, yet unfortunately, there has been no corresponding response from our international partners.”
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine’s efforts in the Kursk area over the past three months have established a critical “sanitary zone” near the national border.
He emphasized that this operation not only strengthens security but also supports Ukraine’s prisoner exchange efforts with Russia, as it “has greatly contributed to the release of our people from Russian captivity.”
In response to North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has urged South Korea to increase its support for Ukraine.
