Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has again raised the possibility of military technology cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
He also said that North Korean troops are gaining experience operating drones and responding to electronic warfare in Russia.
However, the scope of any technology transfer and the holding of future talks remain at the stage of claims and proposals by the countries involved, rather than confirmed outcomes.
3-Line Summary
1. Zelensky claims Russia and North Korea share drone technology
2. He also mentions North Korean troops accumulating battlefield experience
3. A trilateral meeting remains at the proposal stage
Why Jet-Propelled Drone Technology Sharing Was Mentioned
President Zelensky claimed that Russia appeared to have shared jet-propelled drone technology with North Korea on October 4 (local time). He said he believed Russia shares various technologies with North Korea, while adding that it was impossible to know specifically which ballistic-missile technologies and others had been transferred. Therefore, what can be regarded as a confirmed fact is President Zelensky’s public statement; this does not mean that the exact scope of the technology transfer has been established.
He said that Ukrainian forces had obtained information from captured North Korean troops that differed from previous information, and claimed that North Korean troops had been trained in drone operation and methods for responding to electronic-warfare systems. President Zelensky assessed the accumulation of this practical knowledge and combat experience as dangerous.
Earlier remarks by President Zelensky reported by Seoul Shinmun included the claim that more than 8,000 North Korean troops were inside Russian territory and that additional deployments were being prepared. In the same report, Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s roving ambassador from the Foreign Ministry, said that North Korean troops could be deployed not only in Kursk Oblast but also in other areas responding to attacks on Ukraine. This was the Russian side’s position, not an announcement that an actual redeployment had taken place.
Proposal for Trilateral Working-Level Talks and Divergent Assessments
President Zelensky also said that the United States was proposing to hold working-level talks in a trilateral format with Russia and Ukraine by the end of October. He said Ukraine was ready to cooperate with such a schedule and indicated that it was willing to accept talks in countries proposed by the United States, including the United Arab Emirates.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Russian Kremlin, said that Russia preferred a peaceful resolution but would fight with all its strength as long as that remained impossible. Although statements by the countries involved regarding the proposal for talks have been issued, no information has been presented establishing the venue, schedule, or format of attendance.
The point worth noting in these remarks is not to conclude the scale of the North Korean troop deployment or whether technology has been transferred. President Zelensky warned by linking the accumulation of North Korean battlefield experience with cooperation on drone technology, while the Russian side mentioned the possibility of broader deployment of North Korean troops. The actual scope of technology transfers and troop deployments is an issue that can become clear only through subsequent announcements by the countries involved and independent confirmation.
References
Tags #VolodymyrZelensky #Zelensky #Ukraine #Russia #NorthKoreanTroops #JetPropelledDrones #DroneTechnology #ElectronicWarfare #Kursk #RussiaNorthKoreaMilitaryCooperation #UkraineWar #TrilateralTalks