Politics Pentagon: 10,000 soldiers from North Korea in Russia

According to estimates by the US Department of Defense, the number of soldiers deployed to Russia from North Korea is around 10,000.

"We believe that North Korea has sent a total of about 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia for training, who will likely reinforce Russian forces near Ukraine in the coming weeks," said Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh. Some of these North Korean soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine. There are fears of a deployment in the Russian region of Kursk near the border with Ukraine.

Should the soldiers from North Korea actually be deployed on the battlefield, this would mean a further escalation of the war and would also show "the increasing desperation" of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose armed forces had suffered "extraordinary losses" on the battlefield, said Singh. It was "an indication that Putin may be in more trouble than people realize". The use of North Koreans in the Russian war of aggression would also have "serious implications for security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region", Singh warned.

According to Russian sources, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui was expected to return to Moscow after a three-day visit to the Russian capital in January. Putin himself does not deny the presence of North Korean soldiers and points out that Ukraine also relies on personnel from NATO countries.

Zelensky urges NATO invitation at the Nordic Council

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been warning for days of a further escalation in the war should Russia deploy the North Koreans in combat. The arrival of the North Korean soldiers was also a topic during his appearance in Iceland at the Nordic Council meeting, where he once again called for more military aid and, above all, an invitation to join Nato in front of the heads of government of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland.

Ukraine was not expected to join Nato during the ongoing Russian war of aggression, but an invitation to membership was certainly expected as a concrete sign, said Selensky in his speech in Reykjavik.

"Protective wall against Russia's imperial ambitions"

Selensky asked the heads of government of the Nordic Council to exert pressure on Germany as well. He expected "a political decision that would bring geopolitical clarity for Ukraine and the whole of Europe and strengthen us in our diplomacy with Russia", he said. "If Ukraine receives an invitation to join Nato, it will become an insurmountable protective wall against Russia's imperial ambitions." His country deserved an honest answer. "Please work with partners across Europe - especially in Berlin - so that we can achieve this geopolitical clarity together."

Selenskyj had also met Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and other European heads of state and government this month to campaign for a swift invitation to join NATO. The demand is at the heart of what he calls his "victory plan" in the fight against the Russian war of aggression, which has been going on for almost 1,000 days. The head of his presidential office, Andrij Jermak, is expected to meet with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Washington today (7.30 p.m. local time; Wednesday morning German time).

President calls for arms purchases and investments

Selensky thanked Denmark and the other states for the military aid and investments in arms production in Ukraine to date. His country needs artillery shells and drones, for example, regardless of supply bottlenecks or changing political moods.

"We see that Putin is ramping up his weapons production and rogue regimes like Pyongyang are supporting him. Next year, Putin wants to produce the same amount of ammunition as the EU. We must act now to prevent this," said Selensky. He therefore urged an increase in investment in weapons production, particularly in the manufacture of long-range weapons and drones, "key tools for limiting Russian capabilities".

He called on the members of the Nordic Council to purchase artillery shells in third countries to help Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. "Our team will provide you with all the necessary information about the countries that can supply this ammunition." At the same time, he called on countries to develop their own defense industries. "Europe needs industrial strength and independence from other parts of the world," emphasized Selenskyj.

Injured in new Russian attacks in Kharkiv

At least seven people were injured in a new airstrike on the historically significant Derprom building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to the authorities. Selensky condemned the attack on one of the most famous constructivist buildings, which was the first Soviet skyscraper under communist rule. The building was a candidate for inclusion on Unesco's World Heritage List.

Other cities were also affected by new Russian attacks. Selensky called for the pressure on Russia to be increased and for the country to be further isolated with sanctions.

SDA