Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects Russia to start deploying North Korean soldiers to the battlefield from Sunday or Monday, DPA reported.
"This is a clear escalation," Zelensky wrote in "Ex". He cited intelligence that North Korean units would be deployed to the war zone between October 27 and 28.
The move clearly shows Russian President Vladimir Putin's intention to continue the war, the Ukrainian president noted, adding that Putin has not denied reports of transferring and training North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine.
"The world can clearly see Russia's true intentions, namely to continue the war. That is why a principled and strong response from the world leaders is needed," Zelensky wrote. According to him, tangible pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang is also necessary.
Zelensky's comments came a day after the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) ratified the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty that the Russian president signed during his visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in June.
Speaking in the Russian city of Kazan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit yesterday, Putin dismissed widespread criticism of Pyongyang's deployment of troops to the battlefield in Ukraine. "We have never doubted that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously. What we will do and how we will do it under this article is our job," Putin said.
Yesterday German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described reports of North Korean troops being sent to Russia as "very worrying". "This should not be underestimated," he told reporters during his trip to India. "This is, of course, something that further escalates the situation,", the German chancellor said, adding that the move shows that Putin is in dire straits.
Earlier today, the national security advisers of the US, South Korea and Japan expressed "serious concern" in connection with the deployment of soldiers from the DPRK in Russia for their possible use on the battlefield against Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing the White House.
The trio saw the presence of North Korean troops as the latest sign of deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang and called on Russia and North Korea to end arms and missile transfers, White House national security spokesman John Kirby.
According to him, the transfer is in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Kirby spoke to reporters after White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan held talks in Washington with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, Shin Won-sik and Takeo Akiba, respectively. "National security advisers express serious concern about troop deployment" by North Korea in Russia, "for possible use against Ukraine," Kirby said.