North Korea joined Russia’s largest military drills in decades as an observer for the first time earlier this year, according to Moscow’s top military commander, the latest sign of their burgeoning cooperation as DPRK forces support the invasion of Ukraine.

General Valery Gerasimov, who heads the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces, revealed last week that North Koreans were among observers from 10 nations at the strategic command and staff exercise Ocean-2024 in September.

The drills took placeacross the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas, with over 90,000 servicemen, 7,000 vehicles and