North Korean troops sent to Russia have not yet joined the battle against Ukrainian forces partly due to poor training, say western officials. In a sign of close ties between Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, thousands of soldiers from the DPRK pariah state have been deployed to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

North Korea has sent 12,000 soldiers to Ukraine, but Russia is struggling to get them ready for combat, according to reports.

Around 11,000 personnel deployed by Pyongyang are believed to be not taking part in combat operations and are instead providing rearguard support for Russian forces

Russia has deployed a general to the Kursk region following complaints from North Korean soldiers about insufficient food supplies. According to Ukrainian intelligence, North Korean troops have been facing a shortage of rations,