Ukraine's Zelenskyy says North Korean troops are poised to join the war

North Korean troops are poised to be deployed by Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine as early as this weekend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed FridayWestern officials have warned that North Korean units joining the fight would stoke the almost threeyear war and bring geopolitical consequences as far away as the IndoPacific regionThe possibility has alarmed leaders and deepened diplomatic tensionsWhite House national security spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the top national security advisers for the United States Japan and South Korea met and ldquoexpressed grave concernrdquo about North Koreas troop deployments for potential use with Russia on the battlefield against UkraineKirby said that the national security advisers from the three countries ldquocall on Russia and the DPRK to cease these actions that only serve to expand the security implications of Russias brutal and illegal war beyond Europe and into the IndoPacificrdquo ldquoIt is possible that there are now more than 3000 troops from North Korea that have been dispatched to Russia for outfitting and for trainingrdquo Kirby said on a call with reportersKirby said the US government did not have firm intelligence assessments on where the troops were going ldquobut we believe it is certainly possiblerdquo and ldquoperhaps even likelyrdquo that some of the North Korean troops would be deployed to the Kursk region of Russia where Ukraine has held some territory since capturing it in August But he cautioned that he did not know in what capacity and to what purpose the North Korean troops would be deployedA senior official in the Ukrainian presidential office told The Associated Press on Friday that Zelenskyy had cancelled a planned visit to Kyiv by UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio GuterresThe official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter said the visit was supposed to come after this weeks summit in the Russian city of Kazan of the BRICS bloc of developing economies which Guterres attendedA photograph of Guterres shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit triggered an outcry in UkraineZelenskyy in a post on Telegram said Ukrainian intelligence had determined that ldquothe first North Korean military will be used by Russia in combat zonesrdquo between Sunday and MondayHe said on Telegram that the deployment was ldquoan obvious escalating move by Russiardquo He didnt provide any further details including where the North Korean soldiers may be sentRussia has been conducting a ferocious summer campaign along the eastern front in Ukraine gradually compelling Kyiv to surrender ground But Russia has struggled to push Ukrainian forces out of its Kursk border region following an incursion almost three months agoNorth Korean units were detected on Wednesday in Kursk according to Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate known by its acronym GURThe soldiers had undergone several weeks of training at bases in eastern Russia and had been equipped with clothes for the upcoming winter GUR said in a statement late ThursdayIt estimated the number of North Korean soldiers sent by Pyongyang to Russia at around 12000 including some 500 officers and three generalsGUR provided no evidence for its claimsDutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said Friday on the social platform X that intelligence reports indicated the North Korean soldiers ldquowill probably first be deployed in Kurskrdquo The deployment of North Korean forces under a military pact between Moscow and Pyongyang brings a new dimension to the conflict which is Europes biggest war since World War II and has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides including many civiliansThe US said Wednesday that 3000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training at several locations calling the move very seriousZelenskyy said a week ago that his government has intelligence information that 10000 troops from North Korea are being readied to join Russian forces fighting against his country He said that a third nation wading into the hostilities would turn the conflict into a ldquoworld warrdquo North Korea had already been supplying ammunition to Russia under a defense pact but putting boots on the ground could severely complicate a war that has inflamed international politics with most Western countries supporting KyivPutin meanwhile has looked for support among BRICS countriesHe has neither confirmed nor denied that North Korean troops were in RussiaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever