Putin’s desperate move to throw North Korean troops into Ukraine won’t bring the battlefield gains he thinks

Kim Jong-un inspects soldiers at an undisclosed location earlier this year - (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP)

The deployment of North Korean troops in Russia to be used in Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a sign of desperation from the Russian president that amounts to no more than a quick-fix for frontline losses that is destined to cause longer-term problems, British former diplomats and analysts have warned.

South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence reported that thousands of North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, have recently deployed to Russia to plug gaps in Moscow’s military, with up to 12,000 believed to be ready to be sent.