Wed Oct 16 16:20:00 UTC 2024: ## North Korea Sending Soldiers to Aid Russia in Ukraine War: Ukrainian Claims
**KYIV, Ukraine** – Ukraine has alleged that North Korea is not only sending weapons to aid Russia in its war effort, but also deploying troops to bolster Russian forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that North Korean soldiers are being transferred to the occupying military forces in Ukraine.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Council’s disinformation countermeasures center, confirmed that Russia is training North Korean personnel on its territory. He believes these troops are intended to reinforce Russian conscripts and border guards in border regions.
The White House has expressed concern about these reports, stating that such actions would significantly strengthen the military relationship between Russia and North Korea, signaling Russia’s desperation amidst heavy battlefield losses.
While the Kremlin dismisses these claims as “information hoaxes,” evidence points to a deepening partnership between Russia and North Korea. South Korea has observed North Korea supplying millions of artillery shells to Russia.
Investigative organization Conflict Armament Research (CAR) discovered remnants of North Korean-made Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles in Ukraine, confirming ongoing arms transfers and suggesting a close relationship between the two countries.
Furthermore, Ukrainian officials claim that North Korean engineers have been dispatched to Russia to assess the effectiveness of these missiles. CAR’s Damien Spleeters does not rule out this possibility, stating that it would make sense for engineers to assess the missiles’ performance in real-world conditions.
The potential involvement of North Korean troops, according to Kovalenko, represents a significant shift in the war’s balance, particularly as NATO has maintained a non-combatant role.
Zelenskyy, addressing the Ukrainian Parliament, also revealed that North Korea is sending factory workers to Russia to replace those conscripted for the war effort.
The Ukrainian president’s plan to end the war on Ukraine’s terms includes Ukraine’s pre-war inclusion in NATO, a proposal that many Western allies are reluctant to endorse for fear of provoking Russia.
This situation highlights the evolving dynamics of the war, with international alliances shifting and the potential for further escalation. The full extent of North Korean involvement remains under investigation, but its potential impact on the conflict cannot be ignored.
First Piper 