In his latest video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised an alarm about the long-term geopolitical consequences of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. According to the head of state, Pyongyang is not merely supplying Moscow with weapons but is using the conflict on Ukrainian territory as a proving ground to test and refine its own missile systems. In the context of August 2026, as the war draws in more external players, Zelenskyy emphasizes that "ballistics from North Korea" are gaining critically important combat experience, which will in the future become a threat to stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Missile Range in Europe: How the War is Shifting the Balance of Power
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that gaining combat experience is even more valuable for North Korea than direct arms deliveries. "They received, imagine, additional ballistics from North Korea. And everyone in the world must understand what this means," the president stated. According to him, the use of North Korean missiles in combat conditions allows Pyongyang to correct technical imperfections and eliminate gaps in application tactics. This turns the Ukrainian sky into a giant laboratory for North Korean military engineers, whose developments will subsequently be directed against regional neighbors.
Threat to Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines
Special attention in his speech was paid by the Ukrainian leader to the consequences for countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Zelenskyy directly pointed out that the more North Korea "corrects its imperfections and ignorance" during the war with Ukraine, the higher the level of danger will become for Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. The President believes that the world must realize: the war in Europe is effectively modernizing the military potential of the dictatorship in Pyongyang, making it more deadly and technologically advanced for regional conflicts in Asia.
Plans to Transfer 30–50 Thousand North Korean Soldiers
In addition to weaponry, Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed large-scale plans to increase the presence of North Korean manpower on Russia's side. Previously, he stated that Moscow plans to recruit between 30 and 50 thousand North Korean servicemen. These soldiers are to not only perform combat tasks but also gain experience in modern warfare. Zelenskyy noted that such a massive transfer of troops testifies to the deep integration of the military structures of the two states and Pyongyang's desire to gain maximum benefit from participating in the conflict, using Ukrainian territory to train its personnel.
Call to Strengthen Air Defense and International Coordination
In response to the escalation of threats, Zelenskyy called on international partners to strengthen coordination and support for Ukraine, especially in the field of air defense. In his opinion, only a joint reaction by states can curb the "appetite and interest of North Korea" to continue weapon deliveries and send troops to Ukrainian soil. The President concluded that countering these threats is not only the protection of Ukraine but also a way to prevent the further refinement of North Korean military potential, which in the future could be used against other democratic countries.
