President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a new call for long-range Western missiles and hinted at calls for a “pre-emptive strike” against North Korean troops massing in Russia.
Up to 10,000 Pyongyang troops are believed to be about to enter the Ukraine conflict and some have already arrived in the Kursk border region, US intelligence has suggested.
It comes after North Korea also tested its new intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday, claiming it is “the world’s most powerful strategic deterrent.”
Zelensky posted on X on Friday night: ‘Thanks to Moscow’s help, North Korea has improved its artillery and missile capabilities.
‘They are now learning the tactics of modern warfare. Thousands of North Korean soldiers are already near Ukraine’s borders, preparing to fight.
The show of force comes amid a storm of international condemnation and growing alarm over what the United States and others say is North Korea’s deployment of 11,000 troops to Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky meets Keir Starmer in Downing Street today as he seeks support for the fight against Russia.
‘And the world is still watching. We know where these North Korean troops are gathering in Russia.
‘We could act preventively if we had the means: long-range capability. However, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany are watching.”
The Ukrainian leader had previously asked Britain to give him permission to use its Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia, a request that has so far been rejected by Downing Street.
However, Zelensky has compared this position to having to fight with his hands tied.
There were strong signs in September that a breakthrough on the issue was close, but negotiations appear to have stalled amid threats of retaliation from Putin.
During a trip the Ukrainian president made to Downing Street earlier this month, the Government said the UK’s position on the Storm Shadow missiles had not changed.
As part of his victory plan, Zelensky has also asked the United States if he can use America’s long-range ATACMS missiles, a request that has also been rejected due to fears of an escalation of the conflict.
“Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions to make Ukraine stronger and protect its independence while he is president of the United States,” Zelensky said in September.
‘I think it is a historic mission. Well, at least from Ukraine’s perspective.”
File image showing dictator Kim Jong Un supervising artillery firing exercises in North Korea in March.
New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined the prime ministers for the talks, with Sir Keir underlining the UK’s commitment to kyiv.
Kim Jong Un has reportedly sent 12,000 troops to support Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine.
A photograph released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Oct. 23, 2024 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) inspecting strategic missile bases.
This image released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 31 shows the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a test fire.
Russia has greatly strengthened ties with its North Korean neighbor since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the UK Defense Secretary today warned of a “growing alliance of aggression” between the two countries.
John Healey said on Friday afternoon that UK Defense Intelligence had confirmed that 10,000 North Korean troops had arrived in Russia, with a “significant proportion” heading to the Kursk region.
In an intelligence update, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said it was “almost certain that some have already deployed to the Kursk region”, where Ukraine has been carrying out a counterattack.
Mr Healey said: “This growing alliance of aggression shows why we must remain steadfast behind Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”
His statement comes after the United States and NATO also warned that North Korea is likely to have sent troops to help Russia, with Western leaders describing the move as a significant escalation.
Meanwhile, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow on Friday for a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, which South Korea’s spy agency suggested could have involved a discussion over whether Pyongyang would provide additional reinforcements.
The Defense Ministry update said the countries had been seeking to deepen their partnership, and the Russian parliament agreed to a treaty that included a mutual defense clause on October 24.
It comes after a video purportedly showing North Korean soldiers in Russia emerged earlier this month.
But Defense Intelligence added that Russian and North Korean forces would face “interoperability difficulties” as a result of not training together.
It said: “(North Korean) troops conducting combat operations would almost certainly have problems operating Russian equipment, integrating into Russia’s command and control structure, and working to overcome the language barrier with Russian forces.”
North Korea’s ballistic missile launch is believed to be a response to the pressure the country has come under due to its engagement with Russia.
Dictator Kim Jong Un attended the launch and said the test was a warning to enemies who have been threatening the country’s security, state news agency KCNA said.
“The test by fire is an appropriate military action that fully serves the purpose of informing rivals, who have recently intentionally escalated the regional situation and posed a threat to the security of our Republic, of our willingness to counterattack,” Kim warned. .
The launch marked the country’s longest ever ballistic missile test, with a flight time of 87 minutes, according to South Korea, while the North’s state media boasted that it had set new records for its missile capabilities. .
However, the move drew swift condemnation from the United States, Japan and South Korea, and Seoul warned that Pyongyang could obtain missile technology from Russia to help in the war in Ukraine.
In the early launch on Thursday, the missile took off on a very high trajectory from an area near the North Korean capital, before landing about 125 miles west of Japan’s Okushiri island, off Hokkaido.
It reached an altitude of about 4,300 miles (7,000 km) and flew a distance of 620 miles (1,000 km), the Japanese government said.
North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile, called Hwasong-18, was tested in December last year.
Powered by solid propellant and fired from a road launcher, it was also launched at a very high angle and flew for 73 minutes, translating into a potential range of 9,300 miles (15,000) on a normal trajectory.
That’s a distance that puts any part of the continental United States within range.
