South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that thousands of North Korean workers arrived in Russia in 2024 for construction jobs, according to Yonhap News Agency

Ukraine's president says North Korean forces have returned to the front line in Russia's western Kursk region, after reports they were withdrawn last month due to heavy casualties.

Coupled with disorder in the Russian ranks, and Putin’s “meat-grinder” tactics, North Korean troops have endured a staggering number of casualties and even ended up fending for themselves in some scenarios, according to Ukrainian officials.

This is almost certainly primarily due to heavy losses sustained during attacks against Ukrainian-held positions.” Reports differ on the scale of the losses but one put them as high as 4,000 North Korean soldiers killed or wounded.

North Korean soldiers ‘brought in again’ on Kursk frontline as Putin admits ‘very difficult’ situation - Russian military bloggers say new Kursk attack came 'like a bolt from the blue’