North Korea’s leader is forging an unproven—and even more brazen—path to achieve regime security, advance his country’s nuclear program and win economic relief.

Tokyo — Thousands of North Korean soldiers in Russia are believed to be there to aid Moscow’s war against Ukraine, a massive and unprecedented mobilization of troops by Pyongyang for a faraway war that complements the munitions already provided to Moscow by the regime.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has sent a trusted special forces general to Russia to lead Pyongyang’s troops in Ukraine, Kyiv’s intelligence has said.