North Korea plans to send 12,000 troops to support Russia in Ukraine, says Zelensky

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that North Korea has deployed about 3,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, with plans to send up to 12,000 more. This marks a significant increase in North Korean military involvement. Ukrainian military intelligence reported detecting North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine has established a presence. The Pentagon confirmed that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are training in eastern Russia and may soon join combat operations. The situation has raised concerns among Western and South Korean officials, who view this as a dangerous escalation. North Korea has previously supplied munitions to Russia, and both countries have strengthened their defense ties this year.