North Korean troops have not been seen on the frontlines in Russia’s Kursk region for several weeks, a Ukrainian military official said Friday, amid reports of mass casualties among Pyongyang’s forces.

The soldiers appear to have been pulled back from the front lines in Kursk after suffering heavy casualties during barely a month of combat, Ukrainian officials said.

North Korean troops fighting for Russia have been pulled from the front line for extra training after crude tactics led to massive casualties.

North Korea sent its best troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. But after months of suffering severe losses, they have been taken off the front line.

Russia has formed an alliance with Iran and North Korea, which could pose a threat to the United States, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. — Ukrinform.

Ukranian reports indicate that the North Korean soldiers previously encountered have withdrawn from the frontline. This report is limited to the Kursk region, where a large part of the recent fighting has been going on.

Ukrainian special forces tell the BBC they have not seen any North Koreans in Russia's Kursk region in three weeks.