Ukraine's government has named three North Korean generals it says are accompanying the thousands of Korean People's Army (KPA) troops deployed to Russia in aid of Moscow's war in Ukraine.
After an initial denial, North Korea has also since defended the idea of deploying troops as in line with international law.
The German Foreign Ministry has admitted the possibility of imposing new sanctions on the DPRK if North Korean troops participate in Russia's war against Ukraine.
South Korea's prediction echoes what Ukraine and the US have said about Russia's war of attrition.