Olaf Scholz talks about the escalation of the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence reports that the first North Korean soldiers have already arrived in Kursk. President Zelensky fears an imminent march.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects Russia to use North Korean soldiers in its war of aggression starting Sunday or Monday. “This is a clear expansion,” Zelenskiy said on the text messaging service X. He cited intelligence reports that army personnel would be deployed in the war zone from October 27 or 28. This clearly shows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to continue the war.
The Kremlin leader did not deny reports of North Korean troop transfers and training and referred to agreed military cooperation with Pyongyang. “That is why a principled and strong response from world leaders is necessary,” Zelensky demanded. There must be significant pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang.
Putin: Too early for negotiations
Putin has previously said that Russian business has cooperated. These are sovereign nations. Russian state media quoted Putin as saying that Ukraine also chooses its partners in the West. “We have been repeatedly told how to ensure Ukraine’s security with or without NATO,” Putin said.
Russia will not make any concessions in its conflict with Ukraine, the Russian president said on state television on Friday. It is currently too early to negotiate any agreements with the government in Kiev. Putin said Ukraine had twice rejected Russian attempts at a ceasefire.
Secret Service: The North Koreans are already in Kursk
According to the findings of the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, the first soldiers from North Korea have already arrived in the Kursk region of Russia. The units had previously trained at military training areas in eastern Russia, the Secret Service said on its Telegram channel. Their arrival was recorded on Wednesday in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have occupied dozens of towns since their invasion in early August.
In Kursk, the North Koreans could support Russian troops in their fight to liberate Ukrainian units. At the conclusion of the BRICS summit in Kazan on Thursday, Putin said Russia and North Korea had concluded an all-encompassing agreement on their strategic partnership that included military cooperation. Mutual assistance was also agreed upon if a country was attacked.
Schales: “That’s bad.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday expressed grave concern over possible intervention by North Korean troops in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. “You can’t underestimate it, it’s bad,” says Scholes. “This is certainly something that will further escalate the situation, and at the same time it shows that the Russian president has a serious need.” It should now be examined together with Ukraine, “How can we achieve a fair and just solution for Ukraine? On Wednesday, Austria also protested and summoned the North Korean ambassador to the Foreign Office.
12,000 according to Kiev, 3,000 North Koreans in Russia according to Washington
Ukrainian intelligence estimates that there are currently around 12,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia, including 500 officers and 3 generals from Pyongyang. Kiev fears that the troops will be used in an invasion of Ukraine – with the aim of giving Pyongyang experience in modern warfare as well. However, the US says it knows of 3,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia. However, it is not clear what purpose they are there for.
According to reports from Kiev, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Pek Yevkurov is responsible for coordinating the operation. After all, experts have previously pointed to problems including language barriers. The North Koreans are receiving ammunition, bedding, winter clothes and shoes, and hygiene products, including 50 meters of toilet paper and 300 grams of soap per month, HUR in Kyiv said.
The German Foreign Office assesses the deployment of North Korean troops alongside Russia in a war of aggression against Ukraine as a “clear escalation,” according to a ministry spokesman in Berlin. “We call on the North Korean side not to contribute to this and refrain from doing anything in this direction,” he added.(APA/dpa/Reuters)
