South Korean defense minister says casualties can be expected among Kim Jong Un's forces sent to fight in the war against Russia's neighbor.

North Korea is likely to deploy troops to the battlefields in Ukraine, according to South Korea’s defense chief, as Pyongyang ramps up its support for Russia while taking further measures to distance itself from any form of possible rapprochement with Seoul.

Video footage shot by residents shows the night sky lit up by a succession of bright orange flashes, while ammunition can be heard exploding.