Ukraine’s Zelenskyy urges allies to take action before North Korean troops reach the frontlines

Amid concerns about North Korea joining Russia's war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged its allies to stop watching and take necessary steps before the troops reach the front. 

Raising the prospect of a preemptive strike on camps where the North Korean troops are trained, Ukraine's president said that Kyiv knows their location. 

Zelenskyy also expressed his helplessness as he cannot strike deep into Russia without permission from allies to use Western-made long-range weapons. 

Around 8,000 North Koreans equipped with Russian gear and weapons had been transported to areas near Ukraine, said the Biden administration. 

Reportedly, North Korean troops were being trained at five locations in Russia's Far East. 

Meanwhile, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Friday.

Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly sought permission from the Western allies to use their weapons to strike arms depots, airfields and military bases far from the border to motivate Russia to seek peace. 

The US has argued that missiles are limited in number and Ukraine is already using its own long-range drones to hit targets farther into Russia.

However, Russia has also consistently signalled that it would view any such strikes as a major escalation.

In September, President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would be at war with the US and NATO states if they approve them