Dr Edward Howell, a lecturer in politics at Oxford University and the Korea Foundation Fellow at Chatham House, believes North Korea could send more troops in the future.

He told The Telegraph: “We cannot rule out the likelihood that additional troops will be deployed from other divisions.

“If Russia has pledged to provide North Korea with advanced military and missile technology, as well as knowhow, in response for North Korea going ‘all in’ and sending manpower, then North Korea is likely to continue to deploy troops in order to reap these benefits, and ask Putin for more substantial concessions.”

Earlier this week, the first deaths of North Korean troops were reported.

Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) reported the North Koreans were embedded with Russians in Kursk when they were killed.

According to reports, North Korean soldiers accidentally killed Russian troops because of the language barrier between them.

Kyiv’s military intelligence said that “fearful” North Koreans opened fire on a Russian vehicle in Kursk.

They added that the Russians and North Koreans have struggled to communicate with one another.

Meanwhile, a Western official claimed last month that North Korean soldiers are so badly trained that they were not able to be deployed into combat straight away.

The official said: “We say due to poor training and lack of logistical support as the primary reasons why DPRK (North Korea) haven’t started the fight yet.”

CNN reported in October that the Russian soldiers are not happy with their new colleagues.

They quoted comms from Russian soldiers, with one saying: “What the f*** are we supposed to do with them?”

The soldier added that the North Koreans “can’t be commanded like ours” and appear “inadequately trained.”