North Korea is gearing up to dispatch military units to Ukraine in a move that could dangerously heighten the conflict’s intensity.  In a historic visit last week, Putin journeyed to North Korea (despite many believing it was a body double) for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century. Shortly after the pact was sealed, North Korea declared its intention to send military engineers to aid Russian forces in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Expected to land in Ukraine as early as next month, the North Korean contingent’s arrival signals a worrying shift towards direct involvement in the hostilities.  Already a supplier of munitions and missiles to Russia, North Korea has reportedly delivered up to 1.6 million artillery rounds to Russian troops.