Zelensky calls on allies to ‘not hide’ in response to North Korea’s involvement in war | Wilnesh News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday called on allies to “not hide” and responded to evidence of North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He said in an evening speech that Ukraine had information about preparing two troops, possibly as many as 12,000 North Korean troops, to join the war with Russian troops.

“This is a challenge, but we know how to meet this challenge. It is important that partners do not shy away from this challenge as well,” Zelensky said.

The head of Ukraine’s intelligence service told US publication The War Zone that Kiev expected North Korean troops to appear on Wednesday in Russia’s southern Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an invasion in August.

Lieutenant General Kyrilo Budanov told the media: “We are waiting for the first troops in the direction of Kursk tomorrow. It is not yet clear how many they will be equipped with or how.” We will see in a few days.

In his speech, Zelensky said that neither North Korea nor Russia took into account the death toll in the conflict.

“But all of us in the world have an equal interest in ending the war rather than prolonging it. Therefore, we must stop Russia and its collaborators,” he said.

“If North Korea can intervene in a European war, then the pressure on the regime will certainly not be enough.”

British Defense Secretary John Healy said on Tuesday that it was “highly likely” that North Korea would begin sending hundreds of troops to help Russia in the 2-1/2-year-old conflict.

A senior official in South Korean President Yun Seok-yeol’s office said Seoul may consider supplying weapons directly to Ukraine as part of measures to counter military ties between North Korea and Russia.

Washington is consulting with allies on the implications of North Korea’s involvement, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Monday, adding that if true, the development would be a “dangerous and highly concerning development.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Monday that sending troops to North Korea would lead to a serious escalation of the conflict.