Takeshi Iwaya will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, to reaffirm Japan’s “strong support” for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and to discuss further sanctions against Moscow, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.

'A direct threat' Last week, Ukrainian officials said Ukraine and North Korean troops engaged in small-scale fighting while Ukraine's army fired artillery at North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk border region, where Ukraine launched a surprise push on August 6.

Soldiers from North Korea are reportedly fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine, and initial conflicts have emerged. A recording featuring a Russian Orthodox priest has surfaced online. In it, he claims that the Koreans "brought a plague to the country" and advises soldiers not to heed the "devilish words" of the godless.

North Korea has sent a substantial military force to assist Russia in its war with Ukraine. According to US government officials, there are now more than ten thousand North Korean troops on Russian soil.