South Korea reports North Korean soldiers assigned to Russian airborne, naval brigades

Yonhap reports, citing South Korean intelligence.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service provided an assessment of North Korean military activity in Russia during a closed meeting of the parliamentary intelligence committee.

The report suggests that North Korean troops were redeployed to Kursk in late October after completing training in northeastern Russia. Some soldiers have been assigned to the Russian airborne brigade or naval forces, where they are being trained in tactics and counter-drone operations, while others have already participated in combat.

The intelligence also notes that some DPRK soldiers may have been injured in the fighting, and investigations are ongoing.

According to South Korean sources, Pyongyang has sent 12,000 to 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and additional deployments may occur if requested by Moscow.

"If the war continues, troop losses will increase, and this could lead Putin to request further deployments from North Korea," the intelligence agency warned.

• On November 12, North Korea ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, pledging to support each other in case of attack, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.