North Korea admitted for the first time that it has sent troops to fight for Russia in the war with Ukraine.
State news agency KCNA said on Monday that its soldiers helped Moscow reclaim territory under Ukrainian control in the border region of Kursk, reports the Deutsche Welle.
The agency said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had ordered the deployment as part of a mutual defense treaty with Russia.
"Under the order of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic regarded the territory of Russia as the one of their country and proved the firm alliance between the two countries," KCNA cited the Commission as saying.
North Korea is estimated to have sent nearly 14,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces.
Russia confirmed on Saturday for the first time that North Korean soldiers have been fighting alongside Russians in Kursk.
Moscow said last week Ukrainian forces had been expelled from the last Russian village they had been holding.
But Kyiv denied the claim and said their troops were still operating in Belgorod, another Russian region bordering Ukraine.
