Pyongyang’s shipment of arms and troops to Russia and Moscow’s return of fuel and weapons broke UN rules, according to the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team.
Kim Jong-Un's forces have been fighting in Russia's Kursk Oblast so far, but soon may be sent to eastern Ukraine wearing Russian uniforms, claiming soldiers will defend "Russian territory" in occupied Ukrainian oblasts without Pyongyang formally declaring war on Kyiv.
Shoigu conveyed Putin's gratitude for Pyongyang's "solidarity with Russia's position on all critical geopolitical issues, particularly on the Ukrainian issue."
Ukraine's Kursk gamble backfired by failing to create leverage or divert Russian forces while exposing Western reluctance to support victory, as per The Telegraph.
Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine told the Wall Street Journal they were deceived about fighting South Korean troops and received no payment for their service in Russia's army.
Precision drone and missile strikes eliminated Russian and North Korean officers, allowing Ukrainians to consolidate positions south of Sudzha and push further than expected.
Over six months, Russian losses include 16,000 killed, while 4,000 casualties among a 12,000-strong North Korean contingent led to their withdrawal from the Kursk frontlines.
North Korean forces withdrew after suffering heavy losses due to poor coordination with Russians, the language barrier, and inadequate adaptation to modern warfare, despite being well-equipped with advanced weapons.