Ukrainian Defense Minister confirms initial clashes with North Korean troops

On November 5, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that Ukrainian forces have had their first clashes with North Korean soldiers, who were recently sent by Pyongyang to support Russian forces.

Umerov said this in an interview with the South Korean publication KBS.

The minister describes the engagements as "small skirmishes" rather than large-scale military operations. However, he did not specify which front line these clashes occurred on.

"Can these skirmishes be considered the official start of North Korea's participation in the war? Yes, I think so. These were military clashes," Umerov said.

Umerov adds that the North Korean soldiers are reportedly being disguised as Russian Buryat units to blend with the Russian army, complicating the identification of casualties and POWs from North Korea. A thorough identification process will be necessary to verify their origin before any official statements are made.

“We have identified contacts with North Korean forces but we believe that there will be new battles in the next few weeks, and we will continue the relevant analysis and verification," Umerov clarified.

The Minister of Defense added that Ukrainian defenders expect new skirmishes "in the coming weeks."

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