Russia plans to directly involve North Korea in the all-out war against Ukraine this fall and winter, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 14, citing intelligence data.

The announcement comes a day after Zelensky warned of a “growing alliance” between Moscow and Pyongyang.

According to Ukraine’s military intelligence, Russia’s plans for the fall and winter “include North Korea’s actual involvement in the war,” Zelensky said.

The briefing also included updates on “Russia’s relations with some other countries, which are unfortunately investing in prolonging the war,” the president added.

Zelenskiy warned on October 13 that Russia and North Korea were deepening their alliance, saying the partnership had escalated to the point where North Korea was sending personnel along with weapons to Ukraine’s front lines.

“This is no longer just about transferring weapons. “It’s basically about transferring people from North Korea to the occupying forces,” he said.

The warning followed reports from South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun that North Korea is likely to do so deploy regular troops to Ukraine to help Russia at the front.

Reports have also emerged in recent days that North Korean officers were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on Russian-occupied territory. The Kiev Independent has been unable to verify these reports, which have not been confirmed by a single intelligence source.

North Korea supplies Russia ballistic missiles and enormous quantities artillery shells since the fall of 2023. Earlier this year, two countries signed a mutual agreement defense pact during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang.

Putin submitted the treaty, which stipulates that one nation must provide military assistance to another in the event of an attack, to the Russian State Duma for ratification on October 14.

North Korean soldiers are reportedly in Ukraine – here’s what we know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on October 13 about Russia’s “growing alliance” with North Korea, stressing that the country has gone beyond just supplying weapons and is now “actually transferring people from North Korea to the occupying armed forces.” Zelensky’s statement came days after…