President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a new plea for Western long-range missiles as he hinted at calls for a “preemptive strike” on North Korean forces massing in Russia.
About 10,000 of Pyongyang’s troops are believed to be about to enter the conflict in Ukraine, while some have already made their way to the Kursk border area, US intelligence has suggested.
It comes after North Korea also tested its own new intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday, claiming it is “the world’s most powerful strategic deterrent.”
Zelensky wrote on X on Friday evening: ‘Thanks to Moscow’s help, North Korea has improved its artillery and missile capabilities.
‘Now they are learning the tactics of modern warfare. Thousands of North Korean soldiers are already near Ukraine’s borders and preparing for battle.
The muscle-flexing comes amid a storm of international condemnation and growing alarm over what the US and others say is North Korea’s deployment of 11,000 troops to Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky holds talks with Keir Starmer in Downing Street today as he gathers 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 power. Yet America, Britain and Germany are watching.”
The Ukrainian leader has previously asked Britain to allow him to use its Storm Shadow missiles on targets in Russia – a plea so far rejected by Downing Street.
However, Zelensky has compared this position to having to fight with his hands tied.
There were strong signals in September that a breakthrough on the issue was near, but negotiations appear to have stalled due to the threat of retaliation from Putin.
During a trip the Ukrainian president made to Downing Street earlier this month, the government said the British position on Storm Shadow missiles had not changed.
As part of his victory plan, Zelensky has also asked the US to allow him to use the American ATACMS long-range missiles, a request that has also been rejected for fear of an escalation of the conflict.
“Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions so that Ukraine becomes stronger and protects its independence while he is president of the United States,” Zelenskiy said in September.
“I think it’s a historic mission. Well, at least from Ukraine’s perspective.’
File image shows dictator Kim Jong Un overseeing artillery fire exercises in North Korea in March
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A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 23, 2024 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) inspecting strategic missile bases
This photo, 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 firing
Russia has dramatically warmed ties with its North Korean neighbor since invading Ukraine in February 2022, with Britain’s defense secretary today warning of a “growing alliance of aggression” between the two countries.
John Healey said on Friday evening that British defense intelligence had confirmed that 10,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia, with a “significant proportion” heading to the Kursk region.
In an intelligence update, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said it is “almost certain that some have already been deployed to the Kursk region,” where Ukraine has launched a counter-attack.
Mr Healey said: ‘This growing alliance of aggression shows why we must remain steadfastly behind Ukraine’s fight for freedom.’
His statement comes after the US and NATO also warned that North Korea was likely to send 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 to meet with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
The Defense Ministry update said the countries wanted to deepen their partnership, with the Russian parliament having agreed on October 24 on a treaty that included a mutual defense clause.
It comes after a video emerged earlier this month allegedly showing North Korean soldiers in Russia
But the defense intelligence agency added that Russian and North Korean forces would face “interoperability issues” as a result of not training together.
It said: “(North Korean) forces conducting combat operations would almost certainly have difficulty operating Russian equipment, integrating into the Russian command and control structure, and circumventing the language barrier with Russian forces.”
The launch of North Korea’s own ballistic missile is thought to be a response to pressure the country is facing over its involvement with Russia.
Dictator Kim Jong Un attended the launch and said the test was a warning of enemies threatening the country’s security, state news agency KCNA reported.
“The test firing is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have deliberately escalated the regional situation and recently posed a threat to the security of our Republic, of our will to take countermeasures,” Kim warned. reportedly.
The launch marked the country’s longest ever ballistic missile test, according to South Korea, with a flight time of 87 minutes, while state media in the North hailed that it had set new records for its missile capabilities.
However, the move quickly drew condemnation from the United States, Japan and South Korea, with Seoul warning that Pyongyang could receive missile technology from Russia to help with the war in Ukraine.
The launch early Thursday saw the rocket take off on a sharply elevated trajectory from an area near the North’s capital before crashing about 200 kilometers west of Japan’s Okushiri Island, off the coast of Hokkaido.
It reached an altitude of about 7,000 km and flew a distance of 1,000 km, the Japanese government said.
North Korea’s last ICBM, called the Hwasong-18, was tested in December last year.
Powered by solid propellant and fired from a throwaway, it was also launched at a sharply increased angle and flew for 73 minutes, translating to a potential range of 9,300 miles (15,000) on a normal trajectory.
That’s a distance within reach anywhere in the continental United States.