Zelensky: Putin is involving DPRK troops to avoid mobilization. The West shows zero reaction.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is preparing to use North Korean troops against Ukraine, and this poses a threat not only to our state but also to the entire Asian region.

He mentioned this in an exclusive interview with the South Korean channel KBS.

According to the president, currently, there are 3,000 troops from the DPRK in a preparatory camp, and their number could soon increase to 12,000. Moreover, negotiations are underway to involve engineering troops and civilian specialists to work at Russian military factories.

"They started by transferring millions, according to our data, 3.5 million artillery shells from North Korea to Russia. Russia used all these millions to kill our people. And North Korea also supplied missiles," Zelensky noted.

The president stressed that the involvement of North Korean troops is an attempt by Putin to avoid additional mobilization in Russia: "Putin is very afraid of mobilization within his country. It hits his rating because most people within the country do not support mobilization. They can only shout at Ukrainians from the couch, but they don't really want to fight."

The President of Ukraine especially emphasized the danger of inadequate international response to the involvement of North Korean troops. "This will be the same as with Crimea when the West and various partners did not react to Putin's occupation of our Crimean peninsula. Ten years ago, there were no loud steps, except for even very quiet statements. After that, Putin started a full-scale invasion with a year," Zelensky stressed. According to him, a similar scenario is now unfolding with the North Korean contingent: "Putin is testing the reaction of the West. Putin is testing the reaction of NATO countries. Putin is testing the reaction of South Korea." The president compared the actions of the Russian leader to those of a sapper in a minefield - he is testing what will happen if this contingent is used. "And then, if nothing happens, and I believe the reaction that is present today - is nothing, it's zero, then the number of Korean troops on our land will increase," Zelensky warned.

Zelensky paid special attention to the fact that the participation of the DPRK in the war will allow it to gain modern combat experience. "There is no combat experience in North Korean troops, no modern warfare experience... Therefore, the North Korean military will gain practice in this war, understanding what land warfare is. They will understand what the combat use of artillery, drones, FPV, missiles, and so on, is," the president explained.

Regarding possible prisoners, Zelensky emphasized: "We treat prisoners of any nationality as prisoners of war. It is very important for us to preserve their lives, it is very important for us to respect international law and not to torture prisoners."

The president also spoke about the compensation that Russia offers the DPRK for participating in the war. According to him, this is the transfer of technology, including the experience of using drones, missiles, and other weapons, as well as financial rewards.

Zelensky called on South Korea for closer cooperation, especially in the field of air defense and intelligence sharing. "If South Korea wants to know what North Korea is capable of, to know what a North Korean soldier is capable of in reality, then I think it is advantageous for South Korea to also be here and actually look at the relevant materials," he noted.

The president also expressed concern about China's silence regarding the situation and proposed the creation of an Asian security union involving Japan and South Korea. "North Korea is now drawing your entire region into war. And that's what they are doing. They are doing it not by chance, but to later receive the same in return from Russia, the same support and help," Zelensky emphasized.