Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said North Korea may be preparing to send another 10,000 soldiers to Russia, on top of more than 8,000 North Korean troops he said are already there.
According to Zelenskiy, the additional troops are being selected for training before possible deployment in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
North Korea has previously sent thousands of soldiers and military supplies to support Russia, according to estimates from Ukraine and South Korea. Pyongyang has also been accused of supplying artillery shells, missiles and other weapons to Moscow.
The new figure involving another 10,000 troops, however, is based on Zelenskiy’s latest statement and has not yet been independently confirmed.