North Korea has sent 3,000 more soldiers and additional missiles and artillery to help Russia in its war against Ukraine, South Korea's military said Thursday, as concerns grow around strengthening military ties.

South Korea’s military says North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February in continued support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Roughly 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia in total, with around 4,000 casualties reported, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. “It’s likely that over 3,000 more personnel were sent in January and February,