In a long post on social media, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western Allies to develop “concrete” solutions to provide additional support for Ukraine at a time when North Korean troops are preparing to engage Ukrainian forces in the battlefield.
In late October, North Korean soldiers were sent to the Kursk Oblast to prepare for a fight with Russian troops. U.S. Secretary Of State Antony Blinken stated at a press conference held on October 31 that 8,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast in order to fight alongside Russian troops.
Zelensky wrote on X that “North Korean troops are not yet in combat but this is a matter days, not months.” “When deployed, the troops will be pushed ahead, suffering heavy losses as Russia tries minimize its own troop mobilization.”
According to Blinken’s report, Russia has been educating North Korean soldiers on artillery, basic infantry operations and drones. This includes trench clearing. This indicates that they “fully intend to” use these forces for front-line operations.
Zelensky urged Western powers to unite behind Ukraine and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “testing the reaction of the world” by the influx North Korean troops on the country’s borders.
Zelensky made his comments ahead of an interview with South Korean television to encourage allies, such as South Korea, reconsider their positions, given the growing cooperation between Russia, North Korea and South Korea.
The statement was made as Kyiv prepared for a South Korean delegation to visit the city in order to discuss cooperation and share intelligence about North Korean soldiers. Zelensky wrote that “we are interested in South Korea’s expertise in air defence and hope to further collaborate in the defense sector.”
Yonhap reported on October 30, citing an official of the South Korean presidency, that at this time the country does not intend to directly provide 155 mm artillery rounds to Ukraine. Experts told the Kyiv Independent previously that South Korea would be able to provide the most significant assistance to Ukraine in the form of ammunition shells.
Zelensky called on the next U.S. President to continue to support Ukraine, ahead of the U.S. Presidential election on November 5. “The next U.S. President may strengthen or weaken the support for Ukraine.” Zelensky stated that if the support for Ukraine weakens, Russia would seize more land, and it would prevent us winning this war. “A genuine desire by the United States to quickly end this war is crucial.”
While Democratic candidate Kamala Harri has criticized calls from Ukraine for concessions, Republican candidate Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine might cede territory for peace.
“Ukraine’s territories are non-negotiable.” “Our constitution does not allow us to abandon the lands we are entitled to, regardless of Russia’s claims or constitutional manipulations,” Zelensky continued.
Emerging alliances
In June, amid increased military casualties in Ukraine and concerns over the Russian public’s reaction to the domestic mobilization of the Russian army, Putin visited Pyongyang to increase support for Russia’s war there — signing a pact of mutual defense with the dictator Kim Jung Un.
Zelensky’s post called for the formation of new military alliances in order to counter the military co-operation between Russia and North Korea.
Zelensky stated that it may be time to form an Asian Security Alliance. “Both Japan, South Korea, and China are strong, civilized countries. Reaching out to China may be essential in combating North Korea’s aggressiveness, as North Korea actively pulls that region into war.”
CNN reported on October 29 that U.S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan had urged China, which maintains ties with North Korea to exert pressure on Pyongyang so it would withdraw North Korean soldiers from Ukraine’s frontline. This was based on a U.S. government official.
“I am surprised by China’s silent. “I can’t say China is on our team, but its silence as a regional guarantor of security is striking,” Zelensky stated on social media.
Some Western officials are not optimistic about the United States’ ability to get China to help pull back North Korean forces, despite the United States’ urging. A NATO official told CNN that China had been a “critical facilitator” of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.
China’s support of Russia’s defense sector has played a major role in shifting the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine to Moscow’s advantage. Reuters reported that European intelligence sources told them that Russia had secretly set up a production and development program in China to produce attack drones for use in the war in Ukraine.
China denied on Oct. 24 that there were any North Korean troops in Russia preparing to join Moscow’s full-scale invasion into Ukraine, despite warnings by the U.S.
“Testing the World’s Reaction”
Zelensky warned that as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russian attacks along its eastern front, it may soon have to defend itself from an attack by another aggressor, since world leaders continue to make “only bold statements” and not take concrete action.
“(Putin is) testing the West, NATO and even South Korea by observing their reaction to North Korean forces joining in his campaign. If the response to the North Korean forces joining his campaign is weak, then we can expect that the number of foreign soldiers in our country will increase.
HUR reports that Ukraine has confirmed that North Korea sent 12,000 troops, including 500 officers, to Russia.
Zelensky claims that North Korean troops are gaining valuable combat experience despite not having had any combat experience. They are learning about artillery, modern combat tactics, drone warfare and modern warfare.
Zelensky wrote: “Consider just how close North Korea was to Seoul – only 40-50 km. That’s the range of modern missiles, not artillery.” “Our towns were destroyed by artillery.” I hope South Korea will never face this, but preparations are essential.”
Zelensky, fearing that there will be little action taken to stop a major escalation of the war Zelensky invoked the memories of world leaders’ unwillingness to take action to prevent a full-scale war imminent. “Ten years ago, when Russia invaded and occupied Crimea, there was a little global reaction. Aside from a few quiet declarations. The president wrote that the situation is the same today, with North Korea’s involvement.
Some experts believe that the damage is already done despite Zelensky’s outcry.
“The West did nothing when North Korea began supplying Russia artillery shells late in 2022.” Peter Dickinson is an expert at the Atlantic Council. He wrote that a year later the first reports of Russia launching North Korean missiles against Ukrainian targets began to emerge.
Zelensky concluded that Ukraine now has to contend not only with a Russian Army that wants to increase its fighting forces by 180,000 troops but also a North Korean regime which gains “military technology and the invaluable knowledge of its people.”
Dmytro is the North American news editor at The Kyiv Independent. He worked in Canadian politics for several years as a spokesperson and communications lead for a national party and as a communication assistant for a Canadian member of parliament. Dmytro holds a Master of Arts in Political Management and a Bachelor in Arts in Politics & Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Zelensky stated that the document was likely to cover issues related to national minorities and security cooperation.
Radiy Khabirov said that a Ukrainian drone had struck an oil refinery located in the city Ufa, in Russia’s Bashkortostan republic.
Antony Blinken, a British journalist, said that there have been no clashes yet between the North Korean military and the Ukrainian military. However, he added that they could happen “in the next few days.”
Interfax Ukraine reported that Mykola Tochytskyi, Culture Minister, said that the Ukrainian government does not plan to stop its support for the telethon – Ukraine’s state run pool of TV channels, created during the wartime – before the end the martial law.
Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, said in July that Warsaw could provide Kyiv additional Soviet-made jets if they can find a suitable replacement. Wladyslaw KOSINIAK-KAMYSZ, the Polish Defense Minister, responded to Zelensky’s call for a speedy transfer by saying, “Poland takes decisions based upon its security, and has already done all it can for Ukraine.”
In an interview published by the South Korean KBS TV on October 31, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed to the West the fact that North Korea actively participates in the war against Ukraine.
“You do your job. You rely on reserves, special brigades and such equipment. If you get 10% of the package that has already been voted upon, then that’s a good start. Zelensky said, “It’s not funny.”
“Security and defense will be the priority of the budget for next year.” All taxes paid by individuals and businesses will be used to strengthen our military capabilities and defenders, Prime Minister Denys smyhal announced on his Telegram channel.
Bloomberg reported that the decision was in line according to analysts’ predictions and comes as Ukraine prepares for next week’s U.S. Presidential election.
Authorities said that the attack destroyed the entrance from the first to fifth floors of a nine-story building.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched at least fifty drones overnight. Of these, Ukrainian air defenses shot 17 down in various regions.
In a signed security agreement between Poland and Ukraine, the possibility of Warsaw shooting down Russian missiles headed toward Poland via Ukraine was laid out.
The global entrepreneur network Endeavor, based in New York, has opened its first Ukrainian office to show confidence in the country’s potential for business.
The Kyiv independent in June identified Mykola Senenko as raping an unidentified woman in Kherson Oblast, March 2022.
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It was a confidential information between Ukraine & the White House. How can we understand these messages? Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, said this during a press conference with journalists from Nordic nations.
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Kyslytsya reported that the top officers of North Korea include two deputy chiefs: Colonel General Kim Yong Bok who oversees special operations, and Ri Chang-Ho, who is responsible for the Reconnaissance Directorate (North Korea’s spy agency), Kyslytsya stated.
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