North Korea is playing a key role in Russia's efforts to clear mines in the western Kursk region, where the Russian defence ministry says there is an "unprecedented density of mines" left by Ukrainian forces.

Some 14,000 North Korean troops have arrived to help as part of a military agreement with Moscow, and were previously involved in repelling the Ukrainian offensive. More than six thousand of them have reportedly been killed.

They are currently engaged in dangerous demining operations and are facing both shelling and drone attacks. According to a Russian military report, around 60 percent of settlements in some parts of Kursk are still inaccessible to civilians.

Videos released by the Russian defence ministry show North Korean soldiers in training, detecting mines and singing patriotic songs. Russian commanders praise their performance and compare them to their own engineers.

The Kremlin has described Pyongyang's assistance as "selfless and heroic." "We will never forget this help. This work continues. It is dangerous and difficult, but our Korean friends are really helping us and we appreciate it very much," Moscow spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

(reuters, max)