Secretive North Korea has one of the world’s largest militaries, with 1.28 million active soldiers, but unlike in Russia, the Korean People's Army (KPA) has no recent experience of combat. Pyongyang’s army is “thoroughly indoctrinated but with low readiness,” says Mark Cancian, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

"The number of killed and wounded North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region exceeds 3,000," wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his official Telegram account. He also stated that there is a risk that North Korea will send additional soldiers and military equipment to the Russian army in the Kursk region.

For years, North Korea’s military has helped its leader, Kim Jong-un, keep control of his people and provide a buffer against the country’s sworn enemy, South Korea. With 1.3 million members, the North’s army is among the world’s largest conventional armed forces.