Ukraine's president accused North Korea on Thursday of deploying officers alongside Russia and preparing to send thousands of troops to help Moscow's war effort, although NATO's chief said there was no evidence of Pyongyang's presence at this stage.
Ukraine's foreign minister called North Korean involvement in Russia's war in his country a 'huge threat of escalation'
Zelenskyy has previously accused North Korea of sending troops to Russia's army but this was the first time he gave an exact figure.
Zelensky conducted a whirlwind tour of Western capitals earlier this month including Washington, Paris, Berlin, Rome and London to promote his initiative.