Seoul "will not stand by but respond firmly in collaboration with the international community," South Korea said.

U KRAINE’S PRESIDENT, Volodymyr Zelensky, declared last week that North Korea is sending troops to Russia, in effect joining the invasion as a co-combatant. The appearance of one of the world’s most erratic and heavily-armed nations in the fight might test the best resourced and well-rested defences.

The Kremlin's alliance with North Korea may have bolstered its campaign in Ukraine, but it's come at a potentially serious cost. South Korea's government this week signaled its fury over the growing alliance between the two countries.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, said on Monday she will seek the Russian presidency should Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin no longer be in power. In an interview with the BBC,