North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov have unveiled a memorial in Pyongyang honouring North Korean soldiers who died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine War. The ceremony featured a military display, with jets flying overhead and white balloons released as a statue was revealed and a memorial museum officially opened.
The site, known as the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at Overseas Military Operations, was inaugurated on Sunday, coinciding with what Russia described as the first anniversary of its recapture of parts of Kursk. Ukraine had launched a surprise incursion into the region in August 2024, with Moscow later claiming it had regained full control a year on.
While neither North Korea nor Russia has released official figures, South Korean intelligence estimates that at least 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russian operations, with around 2,000 believed to have died in the conflict. In exchange, Pyongyang is thought to have received food supplies, financial assistance and technical support from Moscow.
During the event, Kim reaffirmed his country’s backing for Russia, pledging continued support for what he described as efforts to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity. He expressed confidence that Russia would emerge victorious in what he called a “sacred war.”
Belousov, meanwhile, said discussions with North Korean officials had focused on strengthening long-term military cooperation. Kim also held talks with Vyacheslav Volodin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, further underlining growing ties between the two countries.
The deepening partnership builds on a defence agreement signed in June 2024, in which both nations pledged mutual support in the event of aggression. Beyond troop deployments, North Korea has also reportedly committed to sending thousands of workers to assist in reconstruction efforts in Kursk.
Melissa Enoch
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