Ukraine has been hit by a surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks, about a third of which used North Korean weapons that can only fly because they run on Western circuitry, obtained despite sanctions,

"What we're seeing is that (North Korean troops are) positioned around the Kursk region, not moving into Ukraine at the moment," Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Nov. 25 during a press briefing.

North Korea could send up to 100,000 troops to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned, amid reports that the North was sending additional long-range artillery systems.

The U.S., South Korea and others say North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Ukraine's General Staff has reported that over 11,000 North Korean military personnel are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast and they have participated in combat against Ukraine's defence forces. Source: Radio Svoboda citing Anatolii Barhylevych,

The audio recording reveals what appears to be a senior North Korean military officer conducting a communication check and urging others to move quickly. Read also: North Korean troops already fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast - GenStaff "Move faster!

The US has not observed any indications of North Korean military personnel being present in Ukraine to support Russia in its war efforts. However, North Korean troops have been reported in Russia’s Kursk region,