North Korean state television broadcast footage Friday purporting to show its soldiers engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, raising questions about Pyongyang’s direct involvement in the war.

The video, aired by KRT, depicts uniformed North Korean troops advancing across snow-covered battlefields, moving through destroyed buildings and overturned vehicles, and firing artillery and missiles. The timing of the recordings remains unclear.

According to reports, North Korean forces began arriving in the Kursk region in late October as part of a mutual defense pact agreed months earlier between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Russia has claimed full control of the Kursk region since April, though Ukraine disputes this. In June, Ukraine’s top military commander stated that Kyiv’s forces controlled about 90 square kilometers of the area and were actively engaging Russian troops there. The Ukrainian military said its actions were intended to tie down Russian units and prevent them from reinforcing front lines in Donetsk, where some of the fiercest fighting continues.

If verified, the footage would mark a significant escalation in North Korea’s support for Russia, moving beyond weapons supplies to direct military involvement. Analysts warn the development could deepen tensions with the West and complicate the already volatile dynamics of the war.