Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Kim Yo Jong Rejects Claim of More North Korean Troops
Ukraine’s president said North Korea might send many more soldiers to help Russia.
Kim Yo Jong, a senior North Korean official, said this claim was not true.
She called the estimate groundless and said it was staged.
North Korea has already been estimated to have sent about 14,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024.
It has also been accused of sending Russia weapons and ammunition.
Kim Yo Jong blamed the United States and Western countries for the Ukraine crisis.
She also criticized military exercises held by the United States and South Korea.
She said she did not know about any recent talks between the leaders of North Korea and the United States.
Kim Yo Jong denied Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s claim that North Korea could send up to 50,000 additional troops to Russia.
She called Zelenskiy’s estimate groundless and a self-staged incident.
North Korea reportedly sent about 14,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk Region in 2024.
Pyongyang has also supplied Russia with artillery rounds, missiles, artillery systems and rocket launchers, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.
Kim Yo Jong said U.S. military drills with South Korea showed Washington’s hostile policy toward North Korea had not changed.
- Who
- Kim Yo Jong rejected a claim by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about North Korean troop deployments to Russia.
- What
- She denied that Pyongyang plans to send up to 50,000 additional troops to Russia.
- When
- The denial was reported on Wednesday, August 19; Zelenskiy made his claim earlier this month.
- Where
- The reported troop deployment concerns Russia, including the Kursk Region.
- Why
- Kim Yo Jong said Zelenskiy’s estimate was groundless and blamed the United States and the West for prolonging the Ukraine crisis.
North Korean Position
Ukrainian Position
Additional troop deployment
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong denied that North Korea plans to send up to 50,000 more troops to Russia and called Zelenskiy’s estimate groundless.
Ukrainian Position
Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed that Pyongyang plans to send up to 50,000 additional troops to Russia.
Responsibility for the Ukraine crisis
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong said responsibility for the crisis and its prolongation lies entirely with the United States and the West.
Ukrainian Position
Zelenskiy’s government has portrayed North Korean military support for Russia as part of the military challenge facing Ukraine.
North Korea’s relationship with the United States
North Korean Position
Kim Yo Jong said Washington’s hostile policy had not changed because U.S. military drills with South Korea continued.
Ukrainian Position
Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in U.S. participation in the drills and said North Korea was unthreatening and respectful.
- North Korean denial
- Kim Yo Jong said the claim of up to 50,000 additional troops was groundless and a self-staged incident.
- Previous troop deployment
- North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk Region in 2024.
- Military supplies
- Ukrainian and independent assessments say Pyongyang supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems.
- North Korea-Russia agreement
- The troop deployment followed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty agreed during Vladimir Putin’s June 2024 visit to Pyongyang.
- U.S.-South Korea drills
- Kim Yo Jong criticized continuing U.S. military exercises with South Korea despite Donald Trump’s order to substantially reduce U.S. participation.
- Leader communications
- Kim Yo Jong said she was unaware of recent communications between the leaders of North Korea and the United States, while Trump said he had received a response from Kim.