Lukashenko alarmed by information about DPRK military participation in Ukrainian conflict, why
In his talk with VGTRK (All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company) journalist Olga Skabeeva on the side-lines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Belarus’ President Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he is alarmed about by the information that the North Korean military may participate in the special military operation in Ukraine
The media representative asked Aleksandr Lukashenko to share his attitude towards the information that the DPRK military would supposedly participate in the special military operation on the Russian side (in particular, such statements were made by Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence at Ukraine’s Defence Ministry, and the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin), and the Belarusian leader replied with a bit of humour, “We are aware of what is happening on the front line and in the Kursk Region. We have not seen any Koreans there, so they are probably too secretly ‘hidden’. Actually, if they were there, then they should have been fighting, not hiding. This is the first point.”
At the same time, Aleksandr Lukashenko added that this topic is a matter of concern for him. “This is the first time I have received information from you that Austin or someone else are worried of Koreans’ presence. This strike a warning note for me: what if they wish to send Poles or French from Zelenskyy’s side. Therefore, such talks should be taken very seriously, they should be monitored. I will definitely tell my brother [Vladimir Putin] about this. Though being in action [during the summit events], we will discuss this problem. We will also meet in the near future and study it in detail,” he noted.
According to the President, he does not really understand and does not really believe that Russians need Koreans there. “I can talk about it openly, because – even having such [confidential] relations with Putin and with Russia – we have not had any situation when Putin asked me during this conflict, especially now, to join militarily in this war. Actually, what might seem to be simpler? We enjoy such a relationship that he can say it as a joke or seriously. This has never happened. I do not think that such a case has happened,” the Belarusian leader noted.
However, according to Aleksandr Lukashenko, NATO members have been fighting on the side of Ukraine for a long time. “Therefore, there would be no surprise if someone comes to help Russia physically. A dozen mercenary states are already fighting there, and we know what kind of mercenaries they are. These people are actually funded by the governments of their states. We know for sure that there were people from France there, we have come across them. I have informed the President of Russia on this issue. It is also exactly known that representatives of Poland are fighting there. No one knows the correct numbers, and no one counts the mercenaries there – so what is the need to get surprised if someone comes to help Russia,” he said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko added that Ukraine and its Western allies would like military representatives of other countries to physically support the Kiev regime, “It would then be a reason to openly send major NATO troops there. They understand perfectly well that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is played out and there is critical soldier shortage, but it is unacceptable to be defeated.”
