North Korean Troops Documented in Ukraine’s Occupied Territories, Says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine documented the presence of North Korean military personnel in its temporarily occupied territories during a press briefing on October 22, Ukrainian outlet Babel’ reports.

Zelenskyy stated that North Korean officers and technical staff have been documented, suggesting that Pyongyang may have sent them to assess the situation before deploying it’s soldiers.

“We have saw officers, technical personnel from North Korea in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that North Korea might be preparing to send troops after these initial assessments.

However, he noted that language barriers between the North Koreans and Russian forces could pose challenges for their cooperation.

When asked why North Korea might be making this move, Zelenskyy suggested that financial incentives were likely behind the decision.

“I think North Korea is very poor. They will send their people to the front for money,” he explained.

The Ukrainian president also pointed out that both the European Union and the United States have been cautious in their reactions to North Korea’s involvement in the Russian agression.

“We are sounding the alarm because we know the risks this creates for us,” Zelenskyy concluded.

In response to questions about South Korea’s stance, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine maintains dialogue with Seoul.

“They are helping, but due to certain constitutional limitations, they are restricted in some areas,” he added.

Earlier, 18 North Korean soldiers that tried to escape from Russian positions in Kursk region were captured and are now expected to be deployed in ground assaults against the Ukrainian Armed Forces.