North Korean soldiers deployed to the Kursk region of Russia have begun combat operations against Ukrainian troops, the U.S. State Department confirmed Tuesday.

The United States confirmed Tuesday that North Korean troops, who have been deployed to Russia's western front-line Kursk region, have begun engaging in combat operations against Ukrainian forces.

North Korean troops have begun engaging in combat operations alongside Russian forces, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday, expressing concern that Russia had turned to North Korea for soldiers to fight in its war with Ukraine.

North Korea has signed off an a treaty with Russia calling for a "comprehensive strategic partnership," Pyongyang's state-controlled news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday. It comes as North Korean troops are in Russia fighting against Ukraine,

The United States confirmed Tuesday that North Korean troops deployed to western Russia have begun engaging in combat operations against Ukraine. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department,

North Korea carried out several GPS jamming attacks targeting South Korean commercial ships and aircraft last week. These allegations of attacks come shortly after Pyongyang conducted a ballistic missile test and provided recent military aid to Russia.

The counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk region is reportedly set to take place in the coming days, as Russian and North Korean troops train together.