Pyongyang: North Korea has inaugurated a memorial dedicated to its troops who were killed while fighting alongside Russia in the conflict against Ukraine. The memorial's opening was highlighted by leader Kim Jong-un's emphasis on the importance of strengthening the relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow, transforming it into a "powerful bulwark," as reported by state media.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the inauguration of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations took place in Pyongyang to commemorate the first anniversary of the "liberation" of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. The ceremony, held on the anniversary of Russia's recapture of the Kursk region on April 26, 2025, saw the attendance of key officials from both North Korea and Russia, including Russia's parliamentary speaker and defense minister. Since 2024, North Korea has bolstered Russia's efforts with approximately 15,000 combat troops and conventional weapons. Reports from Seoul's spy agency estimate that around 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in the ongoing conflict.
During the ceremony, Kim Jong-un remarked that the memorial museum symbolizes the commitment of North Korea and Russia to fortify their bilateral ties. He emphasized the necessity of forming a sincere, dedicated, and unified power amidst changing war dynamics and crises. Kim highlighted the strategic significance of the operations to liberate Kursk, underlining the collaborative efforts of North Korea and Russia in deterring fascism and thwarting hegemonic war ambitions.
The military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has intensified since Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense treaty in June 2024. On the same day as the memorial ceremony, Kim met with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's Duma. Discussions centered around reinforcing political and military cooperation and assistance between the nations.
Kim Jong-un assured that North Korea would fully support Russia in defending its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests. Russia's Tass news agency reported that Belousov expressed Russia's readiness to sign a "Russian-Korean military cooperation plan for the 2027-2031 period."
In a separate meeting with the Russian parliamentary speaker, Kim Jong-un acknowledged Russia's commitment to strengthening its ties with Pyongyang, as evidenced by the high-level delegation present at the ceremony.