North Korean troops supporting Russia in fighting against Ukrainian forces have been removed from battle after being severely weakened from suffering a large number of casualties, officials say.

Ukraine’s special operations forces said on Friday that North Korean troops have not been spotted on the battlefield in Russia’s Kursk region for about three weeks, indicating they may have withdrawn after sustaining heavy losses,

Ukraine believes North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia's army on the Kursk front line have been "withdrawn" after suffering heavy losses, a military spokesman has said.

The Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have confirmed that North Korean troops have been absent from Russia’s Kursk region for around three weeks. — Ukrinform.