Japan promises further aid package for Ukraine

Japan has pledged another aid package for Ukraine to support in the defence against the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.

Zelensky made the announcement following a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Kiev, without providing further details on the scope or content of the aid.

He said Japan has already supported Ukraine with $12 billion worth of assistance.

"Japan is a true leader in Asia in defending the rules-based international order and, simply, human life," Zelensky said in a video message.

The Ukrainian president said he spoke with Iwaya about the help Moscow is receiving from North Korea.

The government in Pyongyang has provided over 10,000 soldiers to support Russian forces in the Ukraine war. According to Ukrainian intelligence, these soldiers are deployed alongside Russian soldiers on the Kursk front line to help Moscow reclaim the western Russian region occupied by Ukrainian troops since the summer.

"Russia is teaching North Korea modern warfare, and this could lead to far-reaching destabilization," Zelensky added.

After the discussion with Zelensky, Iwaya met with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha, the Ukrinform news agency reported.