North Korean troops have entered the fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine, clashing for the first time with Ukrainian forces who are occupying a large chunk of Russia’s Kursk region, according to a senior Ukrainian official and a senior U.S. official.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/05/world/europe/north-korea-russia-ukraine-kursk.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/s/5dsb8fssBg

@RoeyKelner looks like it was a fake

@RoeyKelner It was fake. AI generated image.

Still, I'm divesting... quit while I'm ahead... seems that the NK are getting close to the front and now that I think about it I can see defectors

Yoon sends government delegation to Ukraine to consult on North Korean troops. The South Korean president also shared intelligence with the head of the European Commission suggesting that North Korean troops may join fighting sooner than anticipated

https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1164881.html

Not confirmed for the question, but US defence secretary confirmed they are there : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/23/ukraine-war-north-korea-troops-deployed-russia-us-serious/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_youtube_youtube-community

"First military units from DPRK left training grounds in eastern Russia and were spotted in Kursk region on Wednesday, Ukraine’s military intelligence said. "

https://www.politico.eu/article/north-korea-troops-russia-training-grounds-military-defense-kremlin-ukraine/

Seems unreasonably high. Ukraine isn’t doing much in the way of advances nowadays. We don’t know what role the DPRK soldiers will be placed in, but it’s possible that they’re not going to be front line troops.

I guess if defections count as captures, it becomes more likely?

@creator "before 2024" in the title would have to mean it would already have had to happen, in 2023 or earlier. Did you mean "before 2025"?

@DanielTilkin yes. I updated the title.