South Korea's defense minister, Kim Yong-Hyun, stated in a recent parliamentary session that North Korean military units assisting Russia are likely to be dispatched to the most perilous regions of the ongoing conflict. He expressed concerns that these troops could be utilized as "cannon fodder," a sentiment shared by South Korea's ambassador to the UN, Joonkook Hwang.

As outlined by officials from South Korea, Ukraine, and the United States, North Korea's involvement in supporting Russia in the war appears to be mandated. Reports from the Financial Times noted an incident where a North Korean general was injured and several officers killed due to Ukrainian strikes using Storm Shadow missiles against a Russian command center in Kursk.

Furthermore, North Korean troops are reportedly receiving a brief training period of just a few weeks for combat readiness, including the operation of reconnaissance and strike drones. Earlier statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that North Korean soldiers have already faced their first casualties in the conflict.

In a broader estimate, Dmytro Ponomarenko, Ukraine's ambassador to South Korea, suggested that the number of North Korean soldiers aiding Russia could escalate to 15,000, leading to as many as 100,000 soldiers rotating in a year. During a UN Security Council meeting, North Korea's ambassador Kim Song dodged direct inquiries regarding troop deployments but reiterated that North Korea's partnership with Russia aligns with international law and their treaty obligations.