North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia reportedly killed around 300 Ukrainian soldiers as they recaptured a village in the Kursk region.

According to a report from NK NewsRussian Telegram channel Romanov Light claimed Friday that North Korean soldiers launched an attack on the village of Plyokhovo in Kursk “like a hurricane,” leaving more than 300 Kiev soldiers dead.

How did the attack take place?

The incident occurred on Dec. 6 when North Korean forces killed soldiers and captured the village in less than two hours without taking any prisoners, the channel said.

Although Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the reported attack, former Ukrainian lawmaker and pro-Russian politician Oleg Tsaryov said he could confirm the news but provided no further details.

Relations between Russia and North Korea have reached new heights since South Korea revealed that Pyongyang had sent thousands of troops to Russia to wage war.

The presence of North Korean troops in Russia, confirmed by Washington, is causing concern among leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who has called for their withdrawal.

North Korea-Russia defense pact

Meanwhile, a historic defense agreement between North Korea and Russia, signed by its leaders in June, came into effect after the two sides exchanged ratification documents earlier this week.

The formalization of the treaty comes as the United States and South Korea accuse the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 troops to help Russia fight Ukraine.

Experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to acquire advanced technologies from Moscow and combat experience for his troops in return.

Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership agreement during the Kremlin leader’s visit to Pyongyang.

It requires both states to provide military assistance “without delay” in the event of an attack against the other and to jointly oppose Western sanctions.

With the contribution of AFP