The troops could boost Russia’s depleted forces, but North Korea’s vast army has not seen major combat since the Korean War, and most do not speak Russian.

The North Korean self-propelled guns have a range of between 25 to 37 miles but an "incredibly slow" rate of fire.

Donald Trump has promised to settle the Ukraine war within 24 hours – and so many expect a difficult peace, a “dirty deal” according to Max Hastings, early next year. Russian forces are now on a roll,