Russian President Vladimir Putin is thanking North Korean troops for fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

North Korea confirmed for the first time on Monday that it had sent troops to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine under orders from leader Kim Jong Un and that it had helped regain control of Russian territory occupied by Ukraine.

Pyongyang confirmed on Monday for the first time the deployment of troops to Russia under a mutual defense treaty. Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, on Monday for the "feat" of his country's fighters who fought alongside Moscow's forces to reclaim the Russian region of Kursk,