Reports of North Korean troops shaped the run-up to 22 October 2024
A look back at what had been reported by 22 October 2024 on North Korea's role in the war and on new US aid for Ukraine.
What was known about North Korea's role in the war in Ukraine by 22 October 2024? In the days before that date, three developments stood out: a new US aid package and two separate reports of North Korean involvement.
On 16 October, US President Joe Biden announced a new $425 million military aid package for Ukraine. The package contained long-range weaponry.
On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea had become directly involved in the war. A senior Ukrainian intelligence official said that around 3,000 North Korean troops were in Russia and training for deployment to Russian-occupied territories.
Two days later, on 18 October, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said North Korea had started sending troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a security meeting and said the international community must respond with "all available means".
Taken together, the reports by 22 October 2024 showed Kyiv and Seoul both describing North Korean participation as under way, while Washington was announcing further military support for Ukraine.
