CNN — North Korea has sent 1,500 soldiers to Russia for training, signaling its involvement in Moscow’s conflict with Ukraine. The special forces fighters were transported on Russian ships in October and personally inspected by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Large Russian transport aircraft have been traveling between Vladivostok and Pyongyang, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.
The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned about North Korean troops joining the conflict, with reports suggesting 10,000 soldiers are preparing to fight against Ukraine. Ukraine’s foreign minister accused North Korea of aiding Russian aggression with weapons and personnel, urging swift action from the international community.
The intervention marks North Korea’s significant military involvement in an international war for the first time. The troops are expected to be deployed to the front lines after training near Russia’s border with North Korea. Kremlin has dismissed allegations of North Korean involvement as a hoax, despite claims of arms transfers between the two nations.