Call On Kyiv Allies To Respond Firmly To Allegations Of North Korea's Involvement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister: This Is A Big Escalation Threat

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. (Wikimedia Commons/Parlamentul Republicii Moldova/Malina officials)

JAKARTA - Ukraine called on its allies on Wednesday to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang, after saying North Korea was de factoically involved in the war on the Russian side.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv allies should respond decisively, including by imposing new sanctions and further isolating Pyongyang, whose relations with Russia have drawn closer since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"This is a major threat of further escalation. We are approaching a new phase, a new war reality," he said at a news conference in the city of the Black Sea, Odesa.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky told parliament in a speech the country's intelligence agency had confirmed the supply of weapons and North Koreans to Russia, echoing similar comments in recent days.

"They are workers for Russian factories to replace the Russians 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," President Zelensky said.

The Kremlin itself has denied allegations North Korea sent people "false news". Moscow and Pyongyang have also denied the transfer of weapons, but said they would improve military relations, perhaps including joint exercises.

Separately, White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said Tuesday that North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine, if true, would mark a significant increase in North-Russian Korean defense ties.

Washington also said North Korea had supplied ballistic missiles and ammunition to Russia.

Meanwhile, US Army Indo-Pacific Commander General Charles Flynn said at an event in Washington North Korean personnel involved in the conflict would allow Pyongyang to react to its weapons, something previously impossible.