Uzhhorod: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in an interview that North Korean troops currently stationed in Russia are anticipated to engage with Ukrainian forces within the next few days. This revelation was made during a conversation with South Korea's public broadcaster, KBS, in the city of Uzhhorod, located in western Ukraine. According to Yonhap News Agency, Zelenskyy disclosed that these North Korean forces have been preparing to enter combat in Russia's Kursk region, which lies near the border with Ukraine. However, he clarified that they have not yet been involved in any direct combat operations. He also dismissed reports suggesting that North Korean soldiers had crossed into Ukrainian territory or suffered casualties in battle. Zelenskyy provided further insights into the situation, revealing that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers are currently stationed at a training camp. This number is projected to increase to around 12,000, encompassing both officers and enlisted personn el. Additionally, ongoing negotiations indicate that Pyongyang may send an engineering unit to Russia, with expectations of a significant influx of civilians to work in Russia's military factories. The Ukrainian President underscored the urgent need for air defense systems from South Korea to counter Russian assaults. He mentioned that a Ukrainian envoy is set to visit South Korea soon to discuss possibilities for arms support and the sharing of intelligence. Zelenskyy also suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin might consider deploying more North Korean troops depending on the reactions from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and South Korea.