North Korea deploys more troops to Russia, spy agency says

North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces in this grab released on President Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyys X — A North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces is seen, in this grab from Ukrainian President Volodymyr's post on X.

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - North Korea is believed to have deployed additional troops to assist Russia's war in Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency said on Thursday.

"North Korea has apparently sent its troops to Russia's frontline region of Kursk, a territory currently occupied by Ukraine, starting from the first week of February," the National Intelligence Service (NIS) here said in a press release.

"We're assessing the exact number of the latest deployment, but it appears to be about 1,000 soldiers, with the possibility of further troop dispatches," it added.

The NIS estimates that more than 4,000 North Korean troops in Russia have been killed or injured, after North Korea sent over 11,000 soldiers to Russia since last October, though neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have confirmed or denied their presence.

Evelyn Nam evelyneyahh@ajunews.com