North Korea confirms for the first time that it sent troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine

North Korea has confirmed for the first time that it sent troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine.

In a report in the state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang's military claimed that its soldiers helped Russian forces "completely liberate" the Kursk border region, according to an order given by leader Kim Jong Un, foreign media write, according to Telegraph.

Pyongyang's announcement comes just days after Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov praised the "heroism" of North Korean troops, the first time Moscow has publicly acknowledged their involvement.

Western officials had previously told the BBC they believed at least 1,000 of the 11,000 troops sent by North Korea had been killed over the three months.

Gerasimov also claims that Moscow regained full control of the country's western Kursk region - a claim denied by Ukraine.

Responding to the statement, the US said North Korea must now bear responsibility for the continuation of the war.

South Korean and Western intelligence have long reported that Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Kursk last year.

The decision to deploy troops was in accordance with a mutual defense treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow, KCNA said.

North Korea and Russia demonstrated their "alliance and brotherhood" in Kursk, adding that a "friendship proven by blood" will greatly contribute to expanding the relationship "in every way."

She added that North Korea would again support the Russian military.

KCNA did not say what would happen to the North Korean troops after their mission in Kursk was over and whether they would be able to return home.

Reports that North Korean soldiers were deployed to fight for Russia first emerged in October, following deepening bilateral ties between Kim and Putin.

This included the signing of an agreement where both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Kim agreed to support each other if either country was facing "aggression."Telegraph/