North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in southern Kursk got drunk on New Year's Eve, according to Ukrainian intelligence sources.

Secretive North Korea has one of the world’s largest militaries, with 1.28 million active soldiers, but unlike in Russia, the Korean People's Army (KPA) has no recent experience of combat. Pyongyang’s army is “thoroughly indoctrinated but with low readiness,” says Mark Cancian, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

There are risks of North Korea sending additional troops and military equipment to the Russian army,” Zelensky said. “We will have tangible responses to this.”

In one week there were more than a thousand North Koreans casualties in the fight with Russia against Ukraine. U.S. officials say they are sent into battle with little equipment or preparation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has reported significant battlefield losses among North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine, claiming they are left unprotected by Russian forces. The statement sheds light on the challenges faced by foreign troops supporting Russia in the conflict and raises questions about the treatment and coordination of allied forces on the front lines.