Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said North Korea is preparing to deploy another 10,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort, in remarks reported on Monday.

The claim, carried by Reuters, points to a deepening military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korean soldiers have already been deployed in the conflict, according to Kyiv and Western intelligence agencies.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly warned that foreign fighters are propping up Russia’s campaign as its own manpower strains. Moscow and Pyongyang have not confirmed the latest figure.

The reported deployment would mark a significant escalation in North Korea’s role. Western officials say Pyongyang has also supplied artillery shells and missiles to Russia, in defiance of UN sanctions.

Analysts say the move underlines how the war is drawing in actors far beyond Europe. South Korea and its allies have condemned the cooperation and warned of technology transfers in return that could destabilise the Korean peninsula.