Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Wednesday denied a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Pyongyang plans to send up to 50,000 additional troops to Russia to participate in the war on the side of its ally.
In a statement published by state media KCNA, the senior party official called Zelensky’s assessment “groundless” and an “orchestrated incident”. Zelensky made his remarks in a post on the platform X this month, urging South Korea to provide support for Ukraine’s air defence.
She said the responsibility for starting and continuing the war in Ukraine lies entirely with the United States and the West. Meanwhile, according to available estimates, North Korea has already sent about 14,000 servicemen to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024 under a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June 2024.
Pyongyang has also supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar shells, ballistic missiles, long‑range artillery, and multiple‑rocket launchers, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.
North Korea’s relations with the US
She noted that the “hostile policy” of the United States toward North Korea has not changed, despite an order by President Donald Trump to significantly reduce U.S. participation in joint military exercises with South Korea. While relations between the leaders of the United States and North Korea were described as “very positive”, Washington continues to conduct drills with Seoul, which she said threatens Pyongyang’s national security.
She added that she was unaware of any recent contacts between the two leaders. On Monday, Trump said he had received a response from Kim after scaling down U.S. military exercises with Seoul and described North Korea as “not a threat and showing respect”.
Source: Reuters
