According to the intelligence arm of the Ukrainian military, North Korean soldiers are just hours away from reaching the frontlines to bolster Vladimir Putin’s troops.
These forces from Kim Jong Un are slated to join Russian soldiers in an effort to recapture the Kursk region from Ukrainian control. Kyrylo Budanov, who leads the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Ministry of Defence, is bracing for these additional troops, expecting “the first units in the Kursk direction” imminently on Wednesday.
Details remain scarce regarding their number and equipment, yet the GUR chief Lt-Gen Budanov hinted to The War Zone that clarity would come within days, noting a potential force of some 2,600 North Korean soldiers headed towards the area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has since advised his nation that the numbers could be as high as 12,000, alerting citizens in his routine broadcast. Footage from Russia’s far east shows what appears to be North Korean troops receiving gear and training; however, Moscow hasn’t acknowledged this development.
A video features a voice declaring: “The handsome allied soldiers from North Korea have arrived. I hope the war will now end.” Zelensky warns of a substantial gathering force, stating: “We have information about the preparation of two units of military personnel from North Korea. Maybe even two brigades of 6,000 people – and this is a challenge.”, reports the Mirror.
North Korea has denied reports of sending troops to Russia, calling them “groundless”, but South Korean intelligence claims the troops are being given fake military IDs to make it seem like they are from Siberian regions Yakutia and Buryatia. Meanwhile, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s ruler, has launched a verbal attack on Ukraine, calling its people “bad dogs ” and “lunatics”.
In other developments, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the US is close to finalizing a $20 billion (£15 billion) payment to Ukraine, which would be funded by frozen Russian assets, according to Politico. Ukrainian President Zelensky has hinted at his hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, suggesting that a decision on energy security could be a step towards ending the war’s “hot phase”.
He said: “A decision on energy security could be made. In other words: we do not attack their energy infrastructure, they do not attack ours. Could this lead to the end of the hot phase of the war? I think so.”
