Ukraine: North Korea will send up to 30,000 Russian soldiers

North Korea will triple its number of troops fighting for Russia along front lines with Ukraine, sending up to 25,000 to 30,000 additional soldiers to help Moscow, according to an intelligence assessment by Ukrainian officials.

The troops could arrive in Russia in the coming months, according to the first assessment by CNN, adding to the 11,000 soldiers sent in November who helped repel Ukraine's invasion into Russia's Kursk region.

About 4,000 of those North Korean soldiers were killed or injured during the deployment, according to Western officials, however, Pyongyang's co-operation with Moscow has flourished since then.

A Western intelligence official confirmed the assessment, saying they had seen evidence shared by Ukrainian estimates suggesting that up to 30,000 new North Korean troops could be sent to Russia.

The first Ukrainian assessment by CNN says the Russian defence ministry is capable of providing <x0pajis, necessary weapons and ammunition” with the aim of “intensing further to Russian combat units”. The document adds that “has a great opportunity for North Korean troops to engage in combat in parts of Russia's suspected Ukraine “to strengthen the Russian contingent, including during large-scale offensive operations”.

The assessment, from Ukraine's defence intelligence agency, also says there are signs that Russian military aircraft are being repacked to transport personnel, reflecting the large enterprise of displacement of tens of thousands of foreign troops through Russian Siberia, which borders North Korea on its remote southwest.

Possible preparations for the new deployment, including the arrival of a ship linked to last year's deployments at a Russian port and cargo aircraft at Sunan Airport in North Korea, have been observed in satellite images taken by CNN./Periscopi/