Volodymyr Zelensky: "a decision has been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed…"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that Russian authorities have agreed to station between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops on Russian soil, a figure larger than the 30,000 he cited earlier in the year, though he gave no details on his source. He added that Ukrainian forces have discovered North Korean missiles inside Ukraine, without specifying where they were found, and warned that Pyongyang is gaining combat experience and receiving military equipment from Russia. Zelenskyy appealed to Seoul for greater assistance, especially in air‑defence capabilities, and noted ongoing talks about a possible drone partnership. The comment follows a June treaty between President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong‑un that obliges the two nations to aid each other if attacked, after North Korea already deployed roughly 14,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region and a missile unit reportedly moved into western Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers.