**North Korea Prepares to Send More Troops to Russia**
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has warned that North Korea is preparing to send more troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. This comes despite significant losses suffered by North Korean forces in the conflict.
According to the JCS, North Korean troops were deployed to Kursk Oblast last fall to help Russian forces counter a Ukrainian incursion. However, Ukrainian forces have continued to fight in the region, hoping to negotiate a peace agreement.
Experts say that North Korea’s high casualty rates are due to a lack of experience with modern warfare and the “human wave” tactics employed against entrenched Ukrainian positions. Only two North Korean soldiers are currently in Ukrainian captivity since Pyongyang deployed its troops in Kursk Oblast last fall.
**Russia Suffers Heavy Losses**
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on Russian forces, with over 1,500 casualties reported just over the past day. A drone attack on Kyiv Oblast also killed two people and injured one other overnight on January 24.
**International Reaction**
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he wants to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to end the war in Ukraine. However, NATO Chief Mark Rutte has stated that Putin has no authority to influence NATO’s future membership decisions.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have confirmed that fresh North Korean troops could arrive within two months, and Pyongyang is reportedly preparing to send Russia 150 short-range KN-23 ballistic missiles in 2025.
