Kim Jong Un hails military alliance with Russia, honours Kursk ‘liberators’

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, celebrated the opening of a museum in memory of the fallen soldiers with the “invincible” alliance that his country has with Russia.

Kim addressed the families of North Korean soldiers who “fought in the operations for liberating Kursk” at the groundbreaking ceremony in Pyongyang’s capital on Thursday, claiming that their deployment to Russia “marked the start of a new history of militant solidarity” with Moscow.

According to state news agency KCNA, Kim said, “The years of militant fraternity, in which a guarantee has been provided for the long-term development of the bilateral friendship at the cost of precious blood, will advance nonstop.”

Relations between Russia and North Korea can be hampered by “domination and tyranny,” Kim continued.

Kim’s visit to the ceremony marked the most recent public service award for North Korean troops who had fought to stop Ukrainian forces from entering Russia’s Kursk region in 2024.

The museum, which will house soldiers from overseas detachments, will be the “first of its kind” in North Korean history, according to Kim.

He stated that today we are holding the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats’ groundbreaking ceremony, which will dedicate the distinguished lives of the heroes and fallen soldiers from overseas operations units, as well as the outstanding Korean citizens and defenders of justice.

NATO, the United States, and South Korean intelligence agencies reported finding proof that North Korean troops had been stationed alongside the Russian military in October 2024.

A mutual defense pact was officially ratified by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin a month later, causing concern about growing military cooperation between the nuclear-armed countries.

Both nations are required to use “all means” to immediately assist one another in terms of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships, as required by the Treaty.

North Korea confirmed that its forces had retaken Ukrainian territory held by Russia for the first time in April by sending a contingent of soldiers to the front line to fight alongside Russian troops.

According to KCNA, the soldiers were deployed to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.”

According to Kyiv and Seoul, North Korea reportedly provided Russia with financial and technological assistance in exchange for more than 10,000 troops.

There are a lot of different estimates for the casualty rate among the North Korean forces.

Around 2, 000 North Korean soldiers were reported dead in September by South Korea’s intelligence agency. After suffering significant casualties in the fighting, Ukraine claimed in January that North Korean troops had been withdrawn from combat. How many North Koreans are still fighting alongside Russian forces is unknown.

Ukraine claimed earlier this month that North Korean troops stationed in Russia were conducting reconnaissance missions using drones across the border, marking the first time North Korean soldiers have been documented on the battlefield.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that “the Defense Forces of Ukraine have intercepted communications between Russian army personnel and North Korean drone operators.”