North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has issued an order for the construction of a monument to honor its soldiers who lost their lives fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine. This move marks the country’s official acknowledgment of its military involvement in the conflict, as reported by state media on Monday.
The decision by Kim to deploy North Korean forces to fight in Russia last year was hailed as a “new chapter in history, demonstrating the strategic depth of the militant friendship” between the two nations, according to the Central Military Commission of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.
This announcement represents the first time North Korea has admitted to sending troops to Russia or their participation in combat against Ukrainian forces.
In related news, Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief military officer, praised the North Korean troops for their “endurance and heroism,” and acknowledged their role in the successful securing of Russia’s Kursk border region. This marks Russia’s first public recognition of North Korea’s military support.
Kim Jong-un also expressed admiration for his troops’ “heroism and courage” in a statement. It is estimated that approximately 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been either killed or wounded in the conflict, while fighting to help Russia reclaim territories lost in Kursk, as cited by South Korean and Ukrainian officials.
Kim directed the erection of a monument in Pyongyang to commemorate the soldiers’ heroic acts and instructed the nation to show special care and preferencing for the soldiers’ families.
Thousands of North Korean soldiers, primarily from their special operations units, have been sent to Russia, with additional troops dispatched to replace casualties, according to South Korean sources.
Ukraine has contested claims made by Russia and North Korea regarding the recapture of the Kursk region, contending that its forces remain in control.
Furthermore, Ukraine had hoped to leverage its control in Kursk as a point of negotiation in future peace negotiations with Russia, which has been in conflict with Ukraine since 2022. This matter was discussed between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Vatican.
North Korean media tracked that Kim initially proposed sending troops to Russia, following the signing of a mutual defense treaty with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin last June. This treaty commits both parties to provide military support upon request.
Concerns have been raised by South Korean and U.S. officials regarding North Korea possibly receiving economic aid and military technology assistance in exchange for its troop deployment.
On Monday, North Korea reaffirmed that the blood-soaked alliance with Russia would significantly bolster the future friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/world/asia/north-korea-troops-russia.html
