Ukraine’s top officials have confirmed that North Korean soldiers have clashed with Ukrainian troops for the first time. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov revealed that a small group of North Korean soldiers were attacked in Russia’s Kursk border region. This development marks a significant escalation in the conflict, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky estimating that around 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in the area.
Seoul has downplayed the incident, stating that it doesn’t believe the troops engaged in direct combat. However, Ukraine’s counter-disinformation official Andriy Kovalenko reported that North Korea’s military units have already come under fire in Kursk. Umerov expects many North Korean troops to be engaged in combat, although it’s currently limited to small-scale contacts.
The North Korean soldiers are integrated with Russian troops, wearing Russian uniforms and undergoing tactical training. Umerov anticipates five units, each consisting of approximately 3,000 soldiers, will be deployed across the battlefield. Zelensky has called for international cooperation to counter Russia’s expansion of the war, emphasizing the need to make this move a failure for both Russia and North Korea.
Analysts suggest that Pyongyang may receive payment or access to Russian military technology in exchange for deploying troops. This development has raised tensions between North and South Korea, with Seoul summoning Russia’s ambassador to demand the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Ukraine.
As the situation unfolds, Russian lawmakers are set to vote on a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, pledging mutual assistance in case of aggression against either country. The international community is closely watching as North Korea enters Ukraine War scenario, as it opens a new chapter of instability in the World.
