'Is this the next tentative step toward a global expansion of what was supposed to be a "regional" conflict that we've been hearing about for some time now? If reports from the field are accurate, it could be. Military observers are reporting North Korean troops in the field with Russian troops either engaging or preparing to engage with Ukraine's troops on Russia's behalf. Or perhaps not. Others claim that there was only a single North Korean tank parked next to one Russian tank for propaganda purposes. Still others said the entire thing was photoshopped. Wherever the truth lies, we should know soon enough. (Newsweek)

A picture purporting to show a North Korean flag next to a Russian one on a Ukrainian battlefield is doing the rounds on several military blogs but some claim it is photoshopped—here is everything we know about it so far.

Both Ukraine and South Korea have said that thousands of North Korean troops are being trained to fight for Moscow in Ukraine, with around 1,500 already reportedly deployed there.

A North Korean envoy to the United Nations denied these claims, calling them "groundless rumors" on Monday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, while the Russian Embassy in Seoul insisted in a Facebook post that its cooperation with North Korea was "within the framework of international law."

If this story turned out to be true (still a very large "if" indeed) it would be a highly unusual development. Everyone is watching for signs of North Korea expanding its role in the new axis of evil and Ukraine would be a natural fit. But why would Russia engage in such an easily exposed ruse if this was faked?

Ukraine is unlikely to simply surrender at the sight of one tank. Russia would risk looking weak and more worried about Ukraine's forces than they already are. In strictly military terms, none of this makes any sense.

The other possibility is one I'm simply missing, but Vladimir Putin has been fighting for a very log time, Rookie mistakes don't seem to be up his alley. Does Mad Vlad have an ace up his sleeve nobody sees yet? Don't put it past him.