Intelligence estimates suggest that Pyongyang sent between 1,000 and 3,000 additional soldiers in January and February, adding to the approximately 11,000 troops already stationed in Russia.
While North Korean forces had largely withdrawn from combat since mid-January - likely due to heavy losses of around 300 killed and nearly 3,000 wounded - they have now returned to battle against Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed their reappearance on the front line, following an initial lull in activity.
Reports indicate that North Korean troops, unfamiliar with modern warfare, have struggled against Ukrainian drones, yet they continue to reinforce Russia’s depleted ranks.
The deepening military alliance between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made Pyongyang a crucial supplier of both troops and ammunition for Moscow’s war effort.
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Source: BBC/IAR/Yonhap News