Ukraine Investigates North Korean Support for Russia in War

Ukrainian prosecutors are investigating North Korea's potential crime of aggression by supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine. Evidence is being collected on arms supply and troop deployment to Russian forces. Reports indicate North Korean troops are training and involved in Russian combat operations.

Ukrainian prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether North Korea is committing a crime of aggression by supporting Russia in the ongoing conflict. The Prosecutor General's Office is working to document and gather evidence regarding North Korea's involvement, which includes arming and aiding Russian forces engaged in hostilities against Ukraine.

The investigation focuses on allegations of North Korea supplying arms to Russia, organizing training for Russian military personnel, and potentially having North Korean forces directly participate in combat. Ukrainian military intelligence, along with South Korea and several Western governments, believe that North Korean troops trained in Russia have been deployed in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a significant incursion in August.

While the Kremlin has previously dismissed these reports as 'fake news,' Russian President Vladimir Putin did not outright deny the presence of North Korean troops when questioned. According to Ukrainian intelligence, approximately 12,000 North Korean troops, including high-ranking officers, are in Russia, undergoing training across five military bases. Dutch intelligence corroborated that at least 1,500 troops are slated for imminent deployment to assist Russia's military efforts against Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies.)