A Ukrainian missile strike on Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk has reportedly killed six North Korean military officers, according to Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine. The strike, which took place on Thursday, also resulted in the deaths of about 20 military personnel, with three North Korean servicemen wounded.
Citing sources within Ukraine’s military intelligence, the report indicates that the North Korean officers were in the region as part of an “exchange of experience” program. Russian bloggers have claimed that the officers were observing Russian military preparations for assault and defense operations when the missile hit a training ground.
Neither Russian nor North Korean state media have confirmed the incident, and Radio Free Asia noted it could not independently verify the reports. This follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent accusations against North Korea for supplying weapons to Russia during its war against Ukraine.
Zelensky condemned Russia’s collaboration with North Korea and Iran at a U.N. Security Council meeting, labeling them as “de facto accomplices” in the war. Western intelligence agencies have echoed these accusations, alleging that North Korea has provided Russia with artillery rounds and ballistic missiles, although both countries deny these claims.
Tensions have also risen after North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, issued a stern warning in response to Zelensky’s comments, calling them “reckless political provocation.” Ukrainian officials maintain that North Korean military personnel and engineers have been active in Russian-occupied territories, with concerns over the mobilization of North Korean labor for construction projects in Donetsk and Luhansk.
