North Korea deploys tens of thousands of troops to support Russia in Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has warned that North Korea plans to send up to 50,000 more soldiers to help Russia fight against Ukraine. He says the troops will be based in southwestern Russia, about 150 miles from the Ukrainian border.

North Korea already sent around 20,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk region after the two countries signed a defence agreement in June 2024. Ukrainian military officials believe more than 6,000 of those soldiers have been killed or wounded.

North Korea is also supplying Russia with missiles, which Ukraine says are getting more accurate over time. Ukrainian forces have found North Korean missiles on their territory.