North Korea on Monday confirmed for the first time it has sent troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence officials said last year Pyongyang dispatched about 10,000 to 12,000 troops, but North Korea had previously neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

North Koreaon Monday confirmed for the first time that it has sent troops toRussiato support its war against Ukraine.

US, South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials have said that North Korea last fall dispatched about 10,000-12,000troops to Russia. But North Korea hadn't confirmed or denied its reported troop deployments to Russia until Monday.

In a statement provided to North Koreas state media, the Norths Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers Party said leader Kim Jong Un had decided to send combat troops to Russia under a mutual defense treaty.

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It cited Kim as saying that thetroops deploymentwas meant to annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.

They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland, Kim said, according to the statement.

In February, South Korea's spy agency said North Korea appears to have sentadditional troopsto Russia, after itssoldiers deployed on the Russian-Ukraine frontssuffered heavy casualties.

In January, the NIS said about 300 North Korean soldiers had died and another 2,700 had been injured.Zelenskyyearlier put thenumber of killed or wounded North Koreans at 4,000, though US estimates were lower at around 1,200.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

Originally published on France24