North Korea boosts troop training for deployment to Russia — South Korean army

Yonhap reported the information.

The assessment came amid accusations from South Korea and the United States, claiming North Korea sent around 11,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. According to Seoul's intelligence, at least 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed, and about 2,700 wounded.

"With around four months having passed since the deployment of troops to the war between Russia and Ukraine, (North Korea) is assumed to be accelerating preparations for additional measures and deployment amid multiple casualties and occurrence of prisoners," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a written assessment.

The agency expects North Korea to continue preparing for advanced weapon launches, including a spy satellite or intercontinental ballistic missile, but notes there are currently no signs of such launches in the near future.

The outlet recalled that earlier this month, North Korea conducted two missile launches, including one it claimed was a hypersonic missile, just days before the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

"While no imminent signs of a missile launch are detected since Trump took office, (the North's) preparations for a spy satellite or an ICBM seem to be continuing," the South's military said, without providing further details.

At the same time, the Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that North Korea appears ready for provocations using short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or balloons carrying debris at any moment.

"Given that the North has conducted surprise provocations depending on its needs, the military will not rule out the possibility of such provocations and will bolster surveillance and its readiness posture during the holiday," it said.

• North Korea can send reinforcements to the Kursk region for Russia's war against Ukraine within the next two months, according to a Pentagon representative.