The assessment came two days after North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to help Russia recapture parts of the Kursk region.

North Korea acknowledged for the first time Monday that it had provided troop reinforcements to aid Russia in its war on Ukraine.

North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un observed the first test-firings of missiles from a newly launched destroyer and called for speeding efforts to boost his navy’s nuclear attack capabilities

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly oversaw the test of a supersonic cruise missile fired from a new battleship -- the destroyer Choe Hyon -- this week.

North Korea said Wednesday leader Kim Jong Un observed the test-firings of missiles from a recently launched destroyer — the first such warship for the North — and called for accelerating efforts to boost his navy’s nuclear attack capabilities.