10/31/2024 – Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP

By involving North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine, Kremlin dictator 
Vladimir Putin is testing the West’s reaction. If it is the same as during the seizure of Crimea, the aggressor will go further, increasing the North Korean contingent.

This forecast was voiced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 
an interview with the South Korean TV channel KBS. In particular, he reproached partners in the West for the “zero” reaction to the involvement of the DPRK army in the war against Ukraine.

“I’ll tell you frankly, I think it will be the same as with Crimea, when the West and various partners did not react to Putin’s occupation of our Crimean peninsula ten years ago. There were no loud steps, except for very quiet statements. And after that, Putin launched a full-scale invasion. The same with the North Korean contingent,” Zelensky recalled.

Zelensky pointed out that the dictator is indeed testing the world’s reaction to his actions.

“Putin is testing the reaction of the West. Putin is testing the reaction of NATO countries. Putin is testing the reaction of South Korea. And I believe that after all these reactions, Putin will decide and increase the contingent. Today, like a sapper in a minefield, he is testing: what will happen if this contingent is used. And then, if nothing happens – and I believe that today’s reaction is nothing, it is zero – then the number of DPRK troops on our soil will be increased,” the president predicted.

He also stated that if there is no proper response from the West, it will not be just a “contingent” of DPRK troops, but in fact “two armies of two states against one army of Ukraine.”

According to Zelensky, if North Korean soldiers are captured, they will be exchanged for captured Ukrainians.

“It is absolutely clear that Russia will take the next steps of escalation. Involving the military, both officers and soldiers, of North Korea is the next path, which Russia does not even hide. And sometimes they are even proud that they have such allies,” the Ukrainian leader said.

He also said that three thousand DPRK soldiers are already in the training camp and in the near future their number will be increased to 12 thousand.

“Also, a separate agreement is being made on the supply of engineering troops and a large number of civilians from North Korea so that they can work at certain military factories in the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said.

When asked whether there had already been clashes with the North Koreans in Kursk, he replied:

“No, not yet. They will. It’s a matter of days, not months. … Of course, these people will die. Of course, they will do everything to ensure that more North Korean soldiers die, which means they will push forward more than the Russians. It is clear that Putin is very afraid of mobilization within his own country. This is a blow to his rating, because most people within the country do not support mobilization. They can only shout at the Ukrainians from the couch, but they don’t really want to fight.”

Zelensky added: North Korea is a way out for Putin today. This is also very beneficial for the leader of the DPRK, since his army currently has no combat experience.

At the same time, according to the president, ten thousand troops from North Korea cannot have a psychological impact on Ukraine.

“First of all, this is an important element for Putin. To show that he is not alone in this war, that he has allies. Not to conduct additional mobilization of Russian troops if it is possible to use citizens of another state. This is exactly why he is doing this,” Zelensky explained.