North Korean soldiers had been missing from combat, fueling speculation they were pulled back after taking heavy losses.

Ukraine's president says North Korean forces have returned to the front line in Russia's western Kursk region, after reports they were withdrawn last month due to heavy casualties

Zelensky made the comments during his evening address to the nation, adding that during recent fighting "a significant number of occupiers have been eliminated, we're talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen.