North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov inaugurated a memorial in Pyongyang on Sunday for North Korean soldiers who died fighting in Ukraine. The ceremony included a military flyover and the release of white balloons as the two officials unveiled a statue and opened a museum dedicated to the soldiers' combat feats.
While neither North Korea nor Russia has released official casualty figures, South Korean intelligence estimates that at least 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to help Russia retake parts of western Kursk, with approximately 2,000 killed. In exchange for military support, North Korea is believed to have received food, financial aid, and technical assistance from Moscow.
The memorial opening coincided with what Russia marks as the first anniversary of regaining control over parts of Kursk, which Ukraine had captured in a surprise incursion in August 2024. Russia claimed full control of the region a year later.
During the event, Kim reaffirmed North Korea's unwavering support for Russia, stating, "We will as ever fully support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests." He added that Russia will "surely win a victory in the just sacred war."
Belousov, for his part, discussed long-term military cooperation with North Korean officials, according to Russian news agencies. Kim also met with Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's parliament and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.
The strengthening of ties between Pyongyang and Moscow was underscored by a June 2024 treaty pledging mutual assistance in case of aggression against either country—a pact Kim hailed as the "strongest ever." Additionally, North Korea has promised to send thousands of workers to aid in rebuilding Kursk.