KYIV, Ukraine — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has called on allied nations to move beyond mere observation and take action before North Korean forces stationed in Russia engage on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy highlighted the possibility of a preemptive strike by Ukraine against training camps where North Korean soldiers are located, asserting that Kyiv is aware of their locations. However, he emphasized that any such action would require consent from its allies to utilize Western long-range weaponry aimed at targets deep within Russian territory.
In a message shared late Friday via the Telegram platform, Zelenskyy stated, “Instead, America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to begin attacking Ukrainians as well.”
On Thursday, the Biden administration indicated that around 8,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to the Kursk area of Russia, near the Ukrainian border, and are getting ready to assist the Kremlin in its efforts against Ukrainian forces in the imminent future.
Leaders in the West have characterized the presence of North Korea’s military in Russia as a considerable escalation, with potential repercussions for relations in the Indo-Pacific region. This situation might facilitate technology exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang, which could enhance the threats linked to North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Friday, highlighting ongoing diplomatic interactions between the two nations.
Ukrainian officials have consistently stressed the importance of having authorization to employ Western weaponry to target military installations, including ammunition depots and airfields well beyond Ukraine’s borders, as a tactic to incentivize Russia to pursue peace negotiations. U.S. defense officials have countered that such missiles are in limited supply and that Ukraine is already deploying its own long-range drones to strike deeper into Russian territory.
Additionally, Moscow has made clear that it would perceive any Ukrainian strikes as a serious escalation of the conflict. President Vladimir Putin expressed on September 12 that Russia would consider itself “at war” with the United States and NATO member states if they allowed Ukraine to proceed with these strikes.