North Korean Troops in Russia Yet to Engage in Full Combat Against Ukraine, Says Presidential Office.

Seoul: The presidential office announced on Wednesday that North Korean troops stationed on Russia's western front have not yet engaged in full-fledged combat with Ukrainian forces. This assessment comes amid reports of North Korean soldiers being present in the region.According to Yonhap News Agency, a senior presidential official, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the initial combat engagement between North Korean troops and Ukrainian forces. Approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers are reported to be in Russia's Kursk region. Despite this, the official emphasized that while a significant number of North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's western front lines, full-scale combat has not commenced.The official noted that there may have been minor incidents related to reconnaissance or preparatory actions, but further observation is necessary to determine if actual combat with Ukrainian forces has started. South Korea is considering sending a monitoring team to Ukraine to evaluate potential joint operations between North Korea and Russia."If North Korea and Russia launch joint combat operations, it will be critical to monitor their tactics, weapons, and any North Korean casualties, as this information could be crucial for South Korea's security and collaboration with Ukraine," the official elaborated. The deployment of a small monitoring team could proceed without parliamentary approval. Additionally, discussions are ongoing regarding Ukraine's potential to send a special envoy to South Korea to discuss the battlefield situation and possible joint responses.