A RED and blue North Korea flag has reportedly been spotted flying alongside the Russian tricolour in Ukrainian territory sparking fears of a major escalation in Putin's bloody war.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused North Korea of deploying officers in Russian-occupied territory and preparing to send as many as 12,000 soldiers to help Moscow's war effort.
After receiving training in Russia’s far east, some troops have now made their way to the western Russia region where Ukraine has maintained a strong foothold since launching an incursion in August.
The Kremlin has previously dismissed reports about the North's troop deployment as "fake news." But Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that it was Moscow's business to implement a partnership treaty with Pyongyang.