It seems Vladimir Putin is determined to finally put an end to the Ukrainian mini-invasion, as reports say he has amassed 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops to lead the first major ground assault in the Kursk region.

The recently signed mutual defense treaty could be used to justify thewidening of the war in Ukraine, as the U.S. says North Korean and Russian troops are already battling Ukrainian forces.

The deployment of around 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia's border Kursk region is convincing the Pentagon to see the conflict in a wider context