North Korea Rejects Zelensky's Troop Buildup Claim

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's claim that North Korea plans to send up to 50,000 additional troops to Russia.

As an influential representative of the ruling party she called Zelensky's estimate "groundless" and "a self-staged incident". The Ukrainian leader reported on the possible deployment this month and at the same time called on South Korea to support Ukraine's air defense.

According to estimates, Pyongyang deployed approximately 14,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk region in 2024 under a strategic partnership agreement signed during Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea. According to Ukrainian and independent assessments, it also supplied Moscow with millions of artillery and mortar shells, ballistic missiles and rocket launchers.

Kim Yo Jong also accused the United States and the West of causing and prolonging the war in Ukraine. She added that Washington's hostile policy toward Pyongyang has not changed despite Donald Trump's decision to significantly limit US participation in joint military exercises with South Korea.

(Reuters, bak)