Zelenskyy predicts North Korean military's combat zone deployment timeline

Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this following the report of Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

"This is an obvious escalation step by Russia that matters, unlike all the disinformation that has been heard a lot in Kazan these days," the president said.

He added that the actual involvement of the DPRK in hostilities should be responded to by tangible pressure on both Moscow and Pyongyang to comply with the UN Charter and punish escalation.

Syrskyi also reported to the president on the Kursk operation and noted that the buffer zone on the territory of the Russian Federation protects Ukraine from Russian attempts to expand the war and ensures significant Russian losses.

Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea

On October 4, the Kyiv Post reported that 20 soldiers were killed in a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, including six North Korean military personnel advising the Russian army.

The South Korean Defense Minister warned on October 8 that North Korea may deploy troops to Ukraine in support of Russia.

At an October 17 press conference in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Russia's plan to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers for combat in Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, later reported that 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are training in eastern Russia, preparing for deployment to Ukraine. He added that the first unit of 2,600 soldiers is en route to Kursk, where Ukraine has established a stronghold.

Ukraine has since shared intelligence with NATO about North Korea’s military involvement and requested data from alliance members.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the participation of the North Korean military in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia would mean a “significant escalation.” 

Later, it was reported that South Korea was considering providing Ukraine with military and intelligence assistance in response to North Korea's sending its military to fight on the side of Russia.