The Russian army is increasingly relying on artillery supplies from North Korea. The transfer of North Korean M1978 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems to Russia is a testament to this, states the head of the National Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation,

He noted that North Korean ammunition accounts for a significant portion of Russian artillery supplies. In general, more than 50% of artillery shells and mines used on the front are sourced from the DPRK, with some areas seeing this figure exceed 70%, Kovalenko said.

The losses represent over a third of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops deployed in Kursk Oblast. The high casualty rate has severely degraded the ability of North Korean forces to conduct offensive operations in support of Russia's attempts to push Ukrainian forces out of Kursk Oblast.

In exchange for helping Russia in the war with Ukraine, North Korea is set to receive Russian MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets. Although these are more modern machines than those currently used in North Korean aviation,