North Korean troops have arrived in Russia to fight Ukraine, says Seoul

Russian navy ships reportedly transferred 1,500 forces to Vladivostok, where they are being trained

Russian president Vladimir Putin, center left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, center right, shake hands during the official welcome ceremony in the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. Picture: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

South Korea’s intelligence agency said on Friday that North Korea had dispatched troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, a development that could intensify the standoff between North Korea and the west.

In a statement on its website, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Russian navy ships transferred 1,500 North Korean special operation forces to the port city of Vladivostok between 8 and 13 October who were now undergoing training.