North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it has troops in Russia.
Pyongyang’s military said its troops were dispatched to assist the forces in “completely liberating” the Kursk border region with plans to “annihilate” Ukrainians in a report published by state news agency KCNA.
Sky News says that Ukrainian officials believe North Korea dispatched as many as 14,000 troops, including 3,000 to replenish prior losses.
North Korea has confirmed for the first time that Pyongyang dispatched hundreds of troops to Russia last year, a claim that has been made by South Korean and Western intelligence.
Additionally, according to a statement, Kim Jong Un has received personal gratitude from Vladimir Putin.
According to KCNA, the decision to send soldiers was made in compliance with a convention on mutual defense between Moscow and Pyongyang.
