A North Korean soldier seemingly accidentally shot and killed one of his comrades, after trying to take down a Ukrainian drone.
Pyongyang has sent around 10,000 soldiers to Russia, as it continues its support for Putin’s war in Ukraine.
North Korean troops first arrived in Russia in October, where they received basic training at military bases.
Recently they have been deployed to the frontlines, where they have been attached to Russian units.
Most of Kim’s soldiers have been sent to fight in Kursk, as Putin’s generals attempt to reclaim territory seized by Ukraine in August.
Video images shot by the drone appeared to capture the moment of the tragic incident as it played out in real time.
The drone flies above two soldiers, who appear to be standing in a sunflower field.
As it passes over them, the soldiers aim their guns at the UAV and take pot shots at it.
When the drone turns back towards the soldiers, one of the North Koreans can be seen lying on the ground motionless.
North Korean soldiers have sustained heavy injuries in the last few days, according to reports from the battlefield.
The 8th regiment of Ukraine‘s Special Operations Forces claimed to have killed 50 and wounded another 47 over the course of three days last week.
A South Korean MP also said that at least 100 of Kim’s soldiers had been killed since entering the fray earlier this month.
Lee Sung-kwon added that another 1,000 are believed to have been injured, saying high-ranking officials were among the casualties.
According to the MP, the North Koreans lack local knowledge of the area and terrain, as well as having no experience of drone warfare.
He claimed Kim’s troops were “being utilised as expendable frontline assault units”.
Lee Sung-kwo added: “Within the Russian military, complaints have reportedly surfaced that the North Korean troops, due to their lack of knowledge about drones, are more of a burden than an asset.”