Zelenskyy warns that China's "silence is striking" and that the partnership between North Korea and Russia could cause problems for Asia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, is warning that the recent stationing of North Korean forces in Russia not only portends problems for Ukraine but also calls into question the security and stability of Western-allied Asian countries.

"North Korea’s actions aren’t random," Zelenskyy stated candidly in an interview with KBS, the public media network in South Korea, on Thursday. "They have strategic goals."

"Their actions aren’t coincidental - they want Russia’s support in return," he added in comments also posted to his social media account on X.

Zelenskyy’s warning coincided with an announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who on Thursday held a joint press conference with their South Korean counterparts to confirm that some 10,000 North Korean soldiers have deployed to Russia for training — 80 percent of which are already in Kursk and expected to begin combat operations against Ukraine in the region within the "coming days."

Zelenskyy, who described the threat now posed by North Korea as "a war of two countries against one," echoed the imminent threat outlined by the U.S. officials and urged South Korea to start taking a bigger role in countering Russia’s near 1,000-day war against Ukraine. 

"Whether these forces are in Kursk or on our occupied lands, they are preparing to fight Ukrainian soldiers. The world must recognize the gravity of this alliance," he said. "South Korea has approached this war with caution. 

"But this isn’t just our war," Zelenskyy continued. "Russia has brought in North Korea, and they won’t stop there. Iran, or even others, may be next."

Zelenskyy said South Korea has already pledged to send a team of specialists to Ukraine where they will collaborate on defensive capabilities, including air defense, as North Korea also provides Russian with artillery and missiles. 

"If South Korea wants to understand the real capabilities of North Korea and its soldiers, it would benefit them to be here, to see and analyze the reality firsthand," he said. "Consider how close North Korea is to Seoul — just 40-50 km [25-30 miles], the range of modern artillery, not even missiles." 

"Air defenses can’t counter artillery strikes. Our own towns were obliterated by artillery. I hope South Korea never faces this, but preparation is critical," Zelenskyy added.

The Ukrainian president further suggested it was time that allies in the East look to form an "Asian Security Alliance" and called on nations like South Korea and Japan to lead the charge.

"And reaching out to China could be essential in countering North Korea’s aggression, as North Korea is actively pulling that region into a war," he said, questioning China’s position as the threat of regional conflict expands. 

"I’m surprised by China’s silence," Zelenskyy added. "I can’t say that China is on our side, but as a regional security guarantor, its silence is striking."

The Ukrainian president highlighted how the unification of Russia and North Korea has direct implications for not only Ukraine, but for partners in the East and allies in the West. 

"[Russian President Vladimir Putin is] testing the West, NATO, and even South Korea, observing their response to North Korean forces joining his campaign," Zelenskyy said. "If the response is weak, we should expect the numbers of foreign soldiers on our soil to increase."

The U.S. on Friday announced another $425 million defensive aid package for Ukraine from the Presidential Drawdown Authority. 

Armored vehicles, anti-tank weaponry, rocket system and artillery munitions, and air defense interceptors are all included in the package to help address "Ukraine's critical security and defense needs."

Notably, Zelenskyy had asked for and been denied Tomahawk intermediate-range missiles, which were not included in the shipment, according to a report leaked to The New York Times this week.

According to reports, Zelenskyy expressed his annoyance on Wednesday not because the United States had refused to give Ukraine the cutting-edge weapons, which could travel around 1,500 miles, but rather because a senior U.S. official, who wished to remain nameless, had leaked the request.