SEOUL--South Korea’s military said on Friday that it suspects North Korea is preparing to send more troops to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces, even after suffering losses and seeing some of its soldiers captured.

North Korea is likely preparing to send additional troops to Russia after suffering heavy losses in battles against Ukrainian forces, South Korea's military said Friday.

A lone North Korean soldier who survived an intense battle against Ukrainian soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region chose to blow himself up rather than allow himself to be captured, Kyiv

Ukraine called for maximum pressure on Moscow and Pyongyang. This happened after the first North Korean prisoners of war were brought to Kyiv. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran on Friday that follows similar pacts with China and North Korea. All three countries are adversaries of the United States, and Russia has used its ties with them to help blunt the impact of Western sanctions and boost its war effort in Ukraine.

Soldiers fighting for Ukraine describe facing relentless waves of determined North Korean troops, Russian units with improved tactics, and Ukraine’s own struggles with exhaustion and sinking morale.

Kim Jong Un's soldiers have joined the Russians in the war against Ukraine. Although North Korean military personnel are dying in large numbers in the battles, they have developed a method for destroying Ukrainian drones.