**North Korea Loses Thousands Fighting in Ukraine**
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that North Korean soldiers have lost 4,000 people while fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. This was reported by Interfax Ukraine on January 9.
Zelensky made these comments at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. However, the Kyiv Independent couldn’t confirm this information.
**North Korea’s Growing Military Ties with Russia**
This news comes as North Korea has strengthened its military ties with Moscow. The US Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Camille Shea, said that more than 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia.
Zelensky also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hiring soldiers from North Korea to continue the war in Ukraine. He said that Putin is “doubly down” on aggression and wants to keep the war going.
**Consequences for North Korea**
North Korea’s involvement in the conflict is seen as mutually beneficial for Pyongyang and Moscow. However, Shea warned that North Korea is gaining valuable combat experience and receiving Russian military equipment and technology, which could make it a more powerful force in the region.
Zelensky also warned that North Korea could send an additional 30,000 to 40,000 troops to the front, making the conflict even more intense.