Zelensky warns Russia depends on North Korean aid, cites broader security risks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a televised address on Monday that Russia has become reliant on North Korean assistance to continue its war in Ukraine. He said Moscow is preparing to host additional North Korean troops and has received another shipment of ballistic missiles from Pyongyang, marking, in his view, the first time Russia lacks a strategic reserve of its own.

Zelensky warned that the cooperation gives North Korea real-world data on missile performance and combat tactics, as Russian forces use Western-supplied weapons, drones and electronic warfare. He said this experience could be applied beyond Europe, posing a potential threat to countries such as Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

"Everyone who thinks seriously must understand what this means," Zelensky said, adding that the issue is not limited to Ukraine but could affect broader regional security.

He urged greater joint action and coordination to strengthen air defence in the region, aiming to deter North Korea from using the conflict as a training ground for future wars.