Zelenskyy warns Russia plans to enlist 30,000 more North Korean soldiers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia intends to enlist another 30,000 North Korean soldiers, with Pyongyang also preparing to provide Moscow with new ballistic missile launchers. This potential escalation comes as the war in Ukraine continues.

According to Zelenskyy's daily address on July 26th, Russia has been making preparations in the Voronezh region since June to receive the additional North Korean troops. This collaboration between Russia and North Korea, which has already seen approximately 14,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia's Kursk region in 2024 under a mutual defense treaty, raises concerns beyond Ukraine.

Zelenskyy emphasized that this partnership is not only a threat to Ukraine but also poses a risk to Asian nations within North Korea's missile range. He stated that Russia is actively assisting North Korea in learning combat tactics, improving its weaponry, and gaining practical combat experience with these arms.

Furthermore, Zelenskyy reported that Russia has recruited 221,000 individuals into its armed forces in less than seven months this year. The cumulative casualty count since the start of the conflict is estimated at nearly 225,500, with 131,000 killed and approximately 93,000 wounded. He described the front-line medical care for the wounded as a "disaster," suggesting that President Putin is preparing to send more Russians into the fray, despite attempts to mask these actions.

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This is not only a threat to Ukraine, Russia is helping North Korea learn how to fight, improve weapons, and gain practical combat experience using these weapons. All of this poses a threat to every country in Asia that is within North Korea's missile range.