Kim Yo-jong Denies North Korea Sending 50,000 Troops to Russia

North Korean official Kim Yo-jong denied claims made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Pyongyang intends to deploy 50,000 additional troops to Russia. In a statement published by state media KCNA on August 19, Kim described the estimate as "groundless" and "a self-staged incident," while asserting that the United States and the West bear full responsibility for the Ukraine crisis.

The dispute follows a social media post by Zelenskyy requesting South Korean support for Ukraine's air defenses. North Korea has previously provided significant munitions and deployed approximately 14,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk region in 2024, following a strategic partnership treaty established during Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024.

Kim also addressed U.S. relations, stating that hostile policies persist despite President Donald Trump's reduction of joint military drills with South Korea. Additionally, Kim stated she was unaware of recent communications between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea, which contradicts claims by Trump that he had received a response from Kim Jong-un.