Zelensky calls North Korean troop deployment to Russia 'major problem' for Pacific security

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday (local time) that North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia poses "a very serious problem for Pacific regional security," and expressed hope for military technology cooperation between Ukraine and Japan in an interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Zelensky shared the interview on his X account after it aired, again underscoring his remarks.

"North Korea has sent 30,000 to 50,000 troops to Russia," Zelensky said in the interview, calling the deployment "a very serious problem, particularly in terms of Pacific regional security."

He said the North Korean troops deployed to Russia had not suffered major losses except when they fought directly against Ukrainian forces during the Kursk operation. "For North Korea, this is a chance to deploy troops, learn from the war and return home — at little cost," he said.

North Korean troops are believed to have helped Russian forces retake the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had briefly seized. Zelensky said the North Korean troops subsequently decided not to enter Ukrainian territory and were instead training alongside drones and drone operators. He also said Ukraine had seen actual missiles made by North Korea.

"We have not seen Chinese-made missiles in Ukraine," Zelensky said, adding that he was aware Chinese technology was flowing into Russia. "Equipment used by Russia is coming from China, and probably personnel and technology as well," he said.

He went on to say that China had the means to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into entering negotiations but was choosing not to do so. "If powerful leaders, including China, stepped in, this war could stop immediately," he said.

"China is a little closer to the Russian side," he added. "The fact that China is not standing in the middle is a problem."

On Japan, Zelensky said he "very much" wanted to build military technology cooperation at both the government and corporate levels. He cited maritime surveillance, intelligence, mine-clearing drones, air defense, cybersecurity and food security as areas of focus, adding that concentrating on the defense industrial base could expand the volume of trade between the two countries.

Zelensky said he had wanted to conclude a drone agreement with Japan, calling it "a decision for Japan to make."