Why Are North Korean Troops in Ukraine Taking Heavy Casualties? NYT | Top Stories Choe Sang-Hun 23 December 2024 at 18:02 The North Korean army is one of the world’s largest. As it joins Russia’s war against Ukraine, its soldiers are paying a price for Kim Jong-un’s geopolitical maneuvers. © Korean Central News Agency, via ReutersA photograph provided by North Korean state media showed troops taking part in a military parade last year in Pyongyang, North Korea.