Pyongyang: A Russian delegation led by the speaker of the Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, arrived in Pyongyang to participate in a ceremony marking the inauguration of a memorial museum dedicated to soldiers who died while fighting for Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. The event was reported by North Korea's state media on Sunday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the delegation, which arrived on Saturday, was welcomed by Jo Yong-won, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations is set to honor North Korean troops who lost their lives while supporting Russia in the Ukraine war.

North Korea deployed approximately 15,000 combat troops to aid Russia following a strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024. On April 26 last year, Russia announced the recapture of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, with North Korean troops reportedly involved in the operation.

During discussions at the Kumsusan State Guest House, Jo and Volodin explored ways to enhance parliamentary exchanges and cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to implementing agreements made during previous summit talks between their leaders in Pyongyang, as noted by KCNA.

Jo emphasized the significance of the high-level delegation's presence at the ceremony as a symbol of the Russian people's support. Volodin expressed gratitude to Kim Jong-un for backing operations at Kursk and committed to eternally honoring North Korean soldiers.

Furthermore, in a display of deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, KCNA reported that the leader of Russia's Communist Party sent a congratulatory message to Kim. The message marked the seventh anniversary of Kim's first visit to Russia and the first anniversary of the Kursk recapture. Gennady Andreyevich Zyuganov highlighted that relations between the two countries have reached a new era with the formalization of their comprehensive strategic partnership.