Call North Korea De Facto Involved In War On Russian Parties, President Zelensky: Not Just Sending Weapons
JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday North Korea de factoably participated on Russia's side in the fight against Ukraine.
In a speech to parliament, the Ukrainian leader said his intelligence agency had confirmed the supply of weapons and North Korean personnel to Russia.
"Our intelligence not only records arms shipments from North Korea to Russia, but also personnel deliveries," President Zelensky told parliament.
"They are Russian factory workers to replace the Russian citizens who died in the war. And personnel for the Russian army. In fact, this is the participation of the second country in the fight against Ukraine on the part of Russia," he explained.
On Sunday, President Zelensky accused North Korea of sending personnel to Russia's armed forces, but the Kremlin had dismissed the allegations as "false news."
Yesterday, White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said on Tuesday North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine, if true, would mark a significant increase in North-Russian Korean defense ties.
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Washington said North Korea had supplied ballistic missiles and ammunition to Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow and Pyongyang have denied arms transfer but said they will improve military relations, perhaps including joint exercises.
The US Army's Indo-Pacific commander, General Charles Flynn, said at an event in Washington that North Korean personnel involved in the conflict would allow Pyongyang to react to its weapons, something previously impossible.