The reported presence of North Korean officials aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine is a “win-win” scenario for Kim Jong Un, offering military advantages with few downsides, experts on the reclusive territory told Business Insider.
In a discussion on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “North Korea has, in fact, entered the war,” per state-run outlet United24 Media.
It follows a Washington Post report that cited a Ukrainian military intelligence official as saying thousands of North Korean troops are already in Russia, receiving training for potential combat by the end of the year. The Kremlin has denied the report, and supporting evidence has so far not publicly emerged.
The latest claims come after scattered reports in recent months described the presence of North Korean officials such as engineers and technicians working in support roles behind the front lines of the conflict.
They number in the dozens, per The Guardian’s recent reporting.
Even limited numbers of North Korean …