The United States warned on Wednesday that North Korea is benefiting from its troops fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, gaining experience that makes Pyongyang "more capable of waging war against its neighbors.

The announcement followed reports from Ukrainian media outlet Militarnyi, which claimed the soldier was captured by Ukrainian special forces during operations in Russia’s Kursk region.

Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Camille Shea has warned that the involvement of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine allows the DPRK to gain valuable combat experience, increasing its readiness for military actions against neighbouring countries.

North Korea "is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology, and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbors," the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.

North Korean artillery spotted in Ukraine; images of soldiers and equipment reveal details about the ongoing conflict.