Ukraine’s top general: 20,000 North Koreans help Russia produce weapons

He said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

Hnatov stressed that despite reports of about 20,000 North Koreans arriving in Russia, so far they are being used in weapons production rather than direct combat.

“At the frontline we do not observe them, nor do we see their direct involvement in fighting yet. But their presence is real. North Korean workers are engaged in manufacturing military goods, particularly Geran drones produced in Yelabuga, Tatarstan. According to data that still needs clarification, around 20,000 North Korean workers may be involved. That too is participation in the conflict,” Hnatov said.

He added that a contingent is also stationed in Kursk region, where North Koreans undergo training.

“They are presented as engineering units that allegedly entered to carry out demining operations,” the Chief of the General Staff noted.

• In July, South Korea’s intelligence service forecast that North Korea might deploy additional military units to support Russia amid deepening military-technical cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.