Russia’s plan to involve North Korea directly in the war against Ukraine this fall and winter has been revealed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, based on intelligence data. Zelensky expressed concerns of a growing alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, indicating Russia’s intentions for North Korea’s active participation in the conflict. This announcement follows previous warnings from the Ukrainian president about deepening ties between Russia and North Korea, involving the deployment of personnel and weapons to Ukraine’s front lines.
The recent developments suggest that North Korea has been supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and artillery shells since 2023, culminating in a mutual defense pact signed earlier this year. The pact mandates military assistance in the event of an attack, with Putin presenting it to the Russian State Duma for ratification. Reports of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine, casualties in missile strikes, and the evolving nature of the Russia-North Korea partnership raise concerns about the escalating conflict.