Ukraine and South Korea are raising concerns over the growing military alliance between Russia and North Korea, which they say now has boots on the ground in occupied Ukraine and continues to ship missiles and artillery shells to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cited military intelligence reports that North Korea was providing military personnel to aid Moscow’s army, and workers for Russian factories to replace Russians killed in the war.
“It’s effectively the participation of a second state in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky denounced Iran’s support for Russia – drones and missiles – and China’s co-operation with Moscow He called on Western partners to increase military support to Ukraine.
Zelensky’s comments came as he seeks to drum up support for his “victory plan,” an effort to secure increased help from the West to strengthen Kyiv militarily and diplomatically while weakening Russia’s economy and war machine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a defence treaty in June, hardening their military alignment against the West.
Last week, South Korea’s defence minister said it was highly likely that North Korean officers were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike near Donetsk, according to Ukrainian media.
US and South Korean officials said that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a violation of UN sanctions.