Around 600 North Korean soldiers are believed to have died while fighting alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, with more than 4,000 others reportedly injured, South Korea's intelligence agency informed lawmakers on Wednesday, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.
North Korea has conducted its first tests of critical weapons systems on its newly launched destroyer, with leader Kim Jong-un emphasising the urgency of boosting the navy's nuclear capabilities to strengthen the country's maritime forces, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing state media.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for helping Russian forces defeat a group of Ukrainian fighters in the Kursk Region. He praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and commended DPRK soldiers for their "heroism, excellent training and dedication" during the fi
Meanwhile, the US State Department said in a statement on Sunday evening that North Korea and other "third countries" had "perpetuated" Russia's war on Ukraine and that it must end, as should Moscow's support for Pyongyang.
Russia's acknowledgement of North Korean troops comes almost a year after the US, South Korea, UK, and Ukraine stated that North Korean troops were seen at the frontlines of the war.
The US on Wednesday raised alarms over the rapidly intensifying cooperation among its four major adversaries--China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea--spotlighting that Russia's war in Ukraine is a catalyst that could drag the US into a multi-front conflict.
The disarmament and peace institute at North Korea's foreign ministry issued the condemnation after Seoul and Washington wrapped up their 11-day annual 'Freedom Shield exercise' on Thursday.
The development comes as troops of South Korea and the US began their annual combined drills the 'Freedom Shield' exercise, which was paused after the accidental bombing of a civilian village by fighter jets last week.
The assessment follows a news report that between 1,000 and 3,000 North Korean troops were newly transported to Kursk via Russian cargo ships and military airplanes between January and February this year in the second round of such troop deployment.
London-based group the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) in its new investigation has said that many people were subjected to abuses including being trapped at sea for years on Chinese vessels involved in illegal fishing and the killing of dolphins.