The Ukrainian government said at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed to Russia to assist the Kremlin in its war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly struck a deal that includes Pyongyang soldiers fighting on the frontlines for Russia in locations near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian President Zelensky warned this could be the start of World War III, citing military intelligence gathered on the alleged partnership.

It was previously reported that North Korea, like Iran, was assisting Russia by providing weaponry and ammunition, but Zelensky revealed during a recent brief that the matters could be much worse, claiming the deal now includes bodies. The Ukrainian President said he would discuss the new revelations with allies to create a plan of action to prevent a large-scale war, as reported by NPR.

"This is no longer just about transferring weapons," Zelensky said in a video address over the weekend. "It's about actually transferring people from North Korea to the occupying military forces. Our relations with partners need to develop further. The frontline needs more support. When we talk about giving Ukraine greater long-range capabilities and more decisive supplies for our forces, it's not just a list of military equipment."
 

United States National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said the Biden administration is concerned about the reports, writing in a statement that the matter "would mark a significant increase" in the defense relationship between Russia and North Korea, as per NPR.

South Korea also said that it would look for signs of North Korea's increased involvement in Russia, a declaration that comes as North Korea has increased political tensions with South Korea over the past several weeks, including blowing up major roads and railways that connect the two countries' borders.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied the North Korean troop deployment allegations, claiming it was a Ukrainian "information hoax." However, Ukrainian officials said that North Korean engineers have been sent to Russia to monitor how well the missiles they supplied to Moscow have been launching.

President Zelensky told lawmakers that he hoped allied leaders would change their strategies to help Ukraine defeat Russia. He said he would continue to press NATO about Ukraine's sought after membership.