North Korea’s reported deployment of soldiers to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is unlikely to shift the course of fighting on the ground, but it could have a major impact on the battle to shape narratives around the war.

Experts told NK News this week that the DPRK’s alleged plans to send 12,000 elite troops will bolster bilateral ties and be a boon to Russia in its war of attrition in Ukraine.

But they emphasized that important questions remain unanswered about where Russia will dispatch North Korean soldiers and who will command them, stating that these issues could disrupt cooperation