'Like a sapper in a minefield.' Zelenskyy says Putin testing West's reaction to DPRK troops
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Photo: Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing how the West will react to the deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia. If the response is weak, the North Korean contingent could be increased, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the South Korean KBS TV channel.
Zelenskyy suggested that, depending on the West's reaction, the Kremlin leader will decide whether to increase the contingent of North Korean soldiers in Russia.
"Today, he [Putin] is like a sapper. Like a sapper in a minefield. He is testing what will happen if this contingent is used. And then, if nothing happens — and I think the current reaction is zero — he will increase the contingent," the head of state clarified.
He emphasized that whether 3,000 or 100,000 North Koreans fight against Ukraine directly depends on the West's reaction. In the case of a weak response, it will not just have a psychological impact on Ukraine but will already have a real impact.
"Because it will no longer be just a contingent but two armies against one Ukrainian army," Zelenskyy explained.
North Korean soldiers in Russia
According to Ukrainian intelligence, 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been transferred to Russia. Some have already been observed in the Kursk region.
For now, Ukraine has not recorded their participation in combat. However, as a Ukrainian officer mentioned to The New York Times, the Ukrainian Armed Forces expect an upcoming offensive by Russians and North Koreans in the Kursk region soon.
