North Korea is gaining experience of modern warfare in Russia, from real combat to operating drones.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with the Japanese broadcaster NHK, an excerpt of which he posted on his page.

By his estimate, North Korea has sent between 30,000 and 50,000 troops to Russia, where they are receiving training and real combat experience. Ukraine has previously said that Russia is helping the DPRK master modern methods of warfare.

“Not on a digital simulator, but in real life,” the President said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this gives Pyongyang an opportunity to deploy its troops, train them and later bring them home with practical combat experience.

The President separately recalled the involvement of North Korean troops in the fighting during the Kursk operation, when, he said, they suffered heavy losses.

After that, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, North Korean troops decided not to enter Ukrainian territory directly, but continued training in Russia.

In particular, they are learning to operate drones and to work alongside drone operators.

The President stressed that the problem extends far beyond the Russian-Ukrainian war. Troops returning to the DPRK will already have experience of modern combat, including drone warfare.

“This is a big problem, all the more so for security in the Pacific region,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.