Secretive North Korea has one of the world’s largest militaries, with 1.28 million active soldiers, but unlike in Russia, the Korean People's Army (KPA) has no recent experience of combat. Pyongyang’s army is “thoroughly indoctrinated but with low readiness,” says Mark Cancian, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

North Korea and Russia are deepening their military cooperation, as Pyongyang ramps up the supply of arms to Moscow for its war in Ukraine and receives much needed cash and oil from the Kremlin in return.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed and wounded in Russia's Kursk region and warned that Pyongyang could send more personnel and equipment for Moscow's army.

North Korea reportedly supplied its Pukguksong-2 missiles to Russia, indicating a deepening military alliance amid ongoing conflicts.

According to analysts from the Ukrainian portal Defense Express, the Russian Federation Army may acquire new weaponry from North Korea. They highlighted the transport of mysterious weapons spotted in the Tyumen region of Russia.

The Russian Federation Army may potentially acquire new weapons from North Korea, according to analysts from the Ukrainian portal Defense Express. They point to the transport of mysterious weapons spotted in the Russian Tyumen region.

North Korea is gearing up to deploy more troops and military equipment, including kamikaze drones, to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. This development was reported by South Korea’s military via Yonhap on December 23.