Beijing: North Korean troops dispatched to Russia for combat in Ukraine in 2024 were still carrying out attacks targeting Ukraine's forces in border areas, according to a Ukrainian media report.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing Ukraine's military intelligence agency HUR, the Kyiv Independent reported that North Korean troops were stationed in Russia's Kursk region as of January and launching attacks on Ukrainian border provinces.

The report stated that the North Korean soldiers were using barrel artillery and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to target Ukrainian forces, while also engaging in aerial and artillery reconnaissance. Without disclosing the exact number of personnel, the intelligence agency noted that the North Korean soldiers stationed in Kursk were rotated regularly under a bilateral agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang.

It was further mentioned that approximately 3,000 trained soldiers have returned to North Korea, with many imparting the skills gained in conflict to the North Korean army. North Korea has contributed over 11,000 combat troops to support Russia's war efforts since October 2024. The deployment followed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June of the same year.