North Korea has sent 3,000 new soldiers to Russia since the beginning of the year, the South Korean army announced, quoted by Yonhap and Agence France-Presse, BTA reported.
According to the statement, in addition to combat contingents, Pyongyang continues to provide Moscow with missiles, artillery and ammunition to help it in the war against Kiev.
"According to our estimates, another 3,000 soldiers were sent as reinforcements in January and February," said the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. They added that of the 11,000 North Korean soldiers initially sent, 4,000 were probably killed or wounded.
The South Korean military said there were signs that North Korea was preparing to launch a new reconnaissance satellite, but so far there was no indication that the launch was imminent.
Meanwhile, in the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the DPRK tested kamikaze drones with artificial intelligence, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, quoted by Reuters.
Kim also inspected an improved version of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy actions on land and water, the KCNA added.
North Korea is making great efforts to develop drones, including kamikaze-type ones. The project is believed to be part of growing military cooperation between the North and Russia over the past year, Reuters noted.
North Korean troops deployed in Russia to fight Ukraine are believed to have participated in drone warfare, gaining valuable experience in real combat conditions.