North Korea has unveiled a new destroyer equipped with an advanced missile system that will become the largest warship in its growing navy.

The North Korean losses amount to almost 10 percent of the country’s deployment to Russia, the Biden administration said.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un announced plans in late 2024 to tighten cooperation with Russia as part of a strategic partnership, according to the KCNA news agency. Chinese leader Xi Jinping also has a clear message for Vladimir Putin.

North Korean troops have now entered Russia’s war with Ukraine in a major way, and some have been killed, Western officials say.

In one week there were more than a thousand North Koreans casualties in the fight with Russia against Ukraine. U.S. officials say they are sent into battle with little equipment or preparation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has reported significant battlefield losses among North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine, claiming they are left unprotected by Russian forces. The statement sheds light on the challenges faced by foreign troops supporting Russia in the conflict and raises questions about the treatment and coordination of allied forces on the front lines.