South Korea's military suspects North Korea is preparing to send more troops to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces, following reports of heavy casualties among North Korean soldiers due to a lack of modern combat training.

Over 12,000 North Korean troops are estimated to be fighting against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, the United Nations Security Council learned last week.

North Korean troops' limited combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain of the Russian-Ukrainian battlefields have contributed to heavy losses.