The spokesman did not say how long that front line was. And while this is not the full picture, it does suggest significant North Korean casualties. Separately, the New York Times also reported that the North Koreans had been pulled off the front lines.

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.

The presence of North Korean forces in Ukraine has been marked by mass casualties, apparent low levels of knowledge about modern warfare, deficiencies in training and low access to appropriate equipment.

Unfamiliar terrain, outdated equipment and poor tactics have likely felled thousands of soldiers, but more may return with better training

It is time to examine not only the effects and effectiveness of North Korean troops in combat, but the wider implications for international security and conflict management.