North Korea has confirmed it deployed troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Pyongyang claimed its soldiers helped “completely liberate” Russia’s Kursk border region under orders from Kim Jong Un, according to Reuters.

The announcement comes after Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov recently praised North Korean servicemen for their "heroism" on the battlefield. Western officials believe that approximately 1,000 of the 11,000 North Korean personnel deployed had been killed.

The United States condemned North Korea's engagement, claiming responsibility for prolonging the conflict. Meanwhile, Ukraine dismissed Russian assertions that it had fully regained control of the Kursk region, Reuters reported.

Reports of North Korean military cooperation emerged after Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense treaty last year. Despite concerns about their preparedness, Ukrainian commanders acknowledged that North Korean troops pose significant obstacles on the front lines.