Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that North Korea is deepening its military cooperation with Russia, claiming Moscow is preparing to bring an additional North Korean contingent onto Russian territory and has received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang.
In remarks delivered during his evening address, Zelenskyy said the development represented a threat extending beyond Ukraine and could have consequences for countries across Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Kyiv Says Russia Increasingly Relies on North Korean Support
Zelenskyy argued that Russia’s growing dependence on North Korean military assistance marks a significant development in the war.
According to the Ukrainian president, Russia is preparing to deploy additional North Korean personnel while receiving further ballistic missile supplies from Pyongyang. He described the alleged cooperation as evidence of an increasingly integrated military relationship between the two countries.
North Korean Weapons Could Gain Battlefield Experience
Zelenskyy said the consequences of the partnership extend beyond the immediate use of North Korean weapons against Ukrainian targets.
He argued that deploying North Korean missiles and personnel in the war provides Pyongyang with an opportunity to identify weaknesses and improve its military capabilities through battlefield experience and cooperation with Russian forces.
The Ukrainian president warned that continued use of these systems could make North Korean weapons more effective in future conflicts.
Zelenskyy Warns Asia Could Face Greater Risks
Kyiv’s concerns extend particularly to countries in the Indo-Pacific.
Zelenskyy said the development of North Korean military capabilities through cooperation with Russia could eventually create additional security risks for Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and other countries in the region.
He argued that the battlefield lessons being gained through the war could ultimately strengthen Pyongyang’s ability to conduct military operations beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Ukraine Calls for Stronger International Coordination
Zelenskyy used the warning to renew his appeal for greater international coordination and military assistance for Ukraine, particularly in strengthening the country’s air-defense capabilities.
He argued that helping Ukraine defend its territory serves a broader purpose by limiting opportunities for North Korea to deploy weapons and personnel in the conflict and gain practical experience in modern warfare.
Kyiv Seeks to Make North Korean Involvement More Costly
The Ukrainian president said international pressure should discourage Pyongyang from expanding its involvement in the war.
He framed military assistance to Ukraine and coordinated international action as part of a broader effort to prevent North Korea from gaining further experience, refining its weapons and developing greater confidence in deploying military capabilities abroad.
Zelenskyy Appeals for Global Response
Zelenskyy concluded by calling on countries that value human life to cooperate in confronting what he described as an expanding international security threat.
His remarks reflect Kyiv’s broader argument that Russia’s military partnerships with countries such as North Korea are transforming the war in Ukraine into a conflict with implications far beyond Europe’s borders.
