Ukrainian President Zelensky Calls Clashes With North Korean Troops Opening New Distribution Of World Unstability

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday the first fighting between the Ukrainian military and North Korean forces "opened a new chapter of instability in the world" after his defense minister said "a small battle" had taken place.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed, in an interview with South Korean television, the first fighting had taken place with North Korean forces, a real escalation in the conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

President Zelensky in his evening video address thanked those in the world who, he said, had reacted to sending North Korean troops to Russia last month "not only with words but who were preparing action to support our defense."

"The first fight with North Korean soldiers has opened a new chapter of instability in the world," he said.

He said Ukraine, which acts together around the world, must "do everything possible for Russia's move to expand the war with this real escalation to fail."

Defense Minister Umerov told South Korea's KBS television in an interview broadcast on Tuesday, there had been a "small battle" with North Korean troops.

"Yes, I think so. It was a (a) battle," Umerov said in English, when asked if clashes had occurred.

The report, with a quote from the interview, cited Umerov's statement that the fighting was small and not systematic in terms of mobilizing the army.

Earlier, South Korea's Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday, more than 10,000 North Korean troops had arrived in Russia, with a "significant number" in front-line areas, including the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched attacks in August.

President Zelensky quoted intelligence sources as saying on Monday that about 11,000 North Korean troops were in Russia. The Pentagon said at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers were in Kursk, but could not confirm their suspicions of having been involved in the fighting.

The KBS report said Umerov told interviewers identification and other procedures would take time as the Russian military attempted to disguise North Korean soldiers as Buryats, Mongolian ethnic groups from Siberian territory.

Umerov said he expected a sharp increase in the number of North Korean troops deployed.

"(There are) existing contacts, but after a few weeks, we will see a more significant number and after that, we will review and analyze it," he said.

It is estimated that North Korean troops will undergo a month-long training, he said, appears to have been shortened to a week or two to allow for a faster deployment to the battlefield.

Separately, Russia has not acknowledged North Korean troops are on its territory. However, President Vladimir Putin last week did not deny reports of their presence. He said it was up to Russia to implement its defense pact with Pyongyang.