By MARK NICOL
Published: | Updated:
Ukraine is facing the threat of a huge influx of North Korean troops who are being trained by Russia‘s army.
At least 10,000 soldiers from the Pyongyang regime are understood to be taking part in manoeuvres before an expected deployment in regions close to the Ukrainian border.
The Kremlin is said to have paid North Korea to send personnel to the front in a deal struck on president Vladimir Putin‘s state visit to Kim Jong Un.
North Korea, like Iran, is also reported to be supplying weaponry and ammunition.
The suggestions emerged as Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled his blueprint for liberating Ukraine, calling Russia and its allies as a ‘coalition of criminals’.
At least 10,000 soldiers from the Pyongyang regime are understood to be taking part in manoeuvres before an expected deployment in regions close to the Ukrainian border. This image, taken on October 2, shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un (centre L) inspecting a training base of the Korean People’s Army’s special operations forces
The Kremlin is said to have paid North Korea to send personnel to the front in a deal struck on president Vladimir Putin ‘s state visit to Kim Jong Un
Observers say Ukraine’s president faces an uphill struggle to convince Western allies to back his Victory Plan.
This includes requests, already declined in recent weeks, such as immediate entry to Nato and permission to fire long-range Western weapons into Russia.
Aspects, which may relate to battlefield strategies, were not disclosed for security reasons.
President Zelensky claimed it was a ‘plan to strengthen our state and our position, to be strong enough to end the war, to make sure that Ukraine has all its muscles’.
But Ukraine opposition MP Oleksii Honcharenko described the proposal as ’empty words, removed from reality’.
The incident was also cited by South Korea ’s defence minister Kim Yong-hyun who said it was ‘highly likely’ to be true. If so, it would be the first confirmation of Kim’s troops being stationed at or near the front line. This picture taken on October 2, shows troops taking part in training at a base of the Korean People’s Army’s special operations forces
The troops were promised to Vladimir Putin by the country’s president Kim Jong-un during a state visit to Pyongyang. Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024
North Korea, like Iran , is also reported to be supplying weaponry and ammunition. This photo taken on September 11, shows soldiers training at an undisclosed location in North Korea
Observers say Ukraine’s president faces an uphill struggle to convince Western allies to back his Victory Plan. Pictured: Volodymyr Zelensky with Prime Minister Keir Starmer this month