Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the deployment of North Korean soldiers to support Russian troops in Ukraine is internationalizing the conflict.

He reported that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers are already near the front line, with expectations of an increase to 12,000.

Western leaders estimate that North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to aid Russia, raising concerns about implications for Indo-Pacific relations.

At the Pentagon, officials confirmed that a small number of North Korean troops are in Russia’s Kursk region, where fighting is ongoing.

Zelenskyy emphasized the need for increased cooperation with South Korea and intelligence sharing in response to North Korea’s involvement, the Associated Press has reported.

Meanwhile, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Ukrainian officials to discuss additional military support, including artillery and air defense systems, amid continued Russian aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities.

Tensions remain high, with North Korea’s military activities escalating and Russia intensifying attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine.

Written by B.C. Begley