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.

It comes after the first official acknowledgement by Pyongyang and Moscow of North Korean troops' involvement in the Ukraine war.

Pyongyang this week confirmed for the first time that it had sent troops to help Russia recapture parts of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. View on euronews