Zelensky: "There Are 11,000 North Korean Troops in Russia's Kursk"

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, claimed on the 4th (local time) that 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Kursk, mainland Russia.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to the Kyiv Independent, President Zelensky stated in an evening speech that he received a report on North Korean troop movements from the intelligence team. This figure greatly exceeds previous estimates. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency announced on the 2nd that the number of North Korean troops was 7,000 as of the end of last month. Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of State also mentioned that about 8,000 North Korean troops had gathered in Kursk.

President Zelensky expressed regret over the Western allies' lack of active response, saying, "We are seeing an increase in the number of North Korean troops," but "our partners' reactions have not increased." He also emphasized that if Ukraine receives permission to use Western long-range weapons, it could launch a preemptive strike on the camps where the North Korean troops are assembled.

Kursk, located in southwestern Russia, is a border area where Ukrainian forces entered on August 6, occupying some territory and engaging in combat with Russian troops.