Overview
- At a Pyongyang ceremony, Kim vowed the Russia–North Korea military relationship would “advance non-stop” as he praised forces that fought in Russia’s Kursk region.
- The Memorial Museum of Combat Feats in the Hwasong district will include a cemetery, memorial hall, monument, sculptures, photos, artworks and battlefield relics, state media said.
- Russia’s ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora and embassy officials attended, as North Korea publicly elevated recognition of its overseas combat units and bereaved families.
- Kyiv and Seoul estimate more than 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to support Russia, while South Korea’s intelligence agency recently assessed about 2,000 killed, figures that remain disputed.
- In April, Pyongyang first confirmed deploying soldiers alongside Russian forces and claimed a role in retaking territory in Kursk, as Ukraine now reports North Korean personnel conducting cross-border drone reconnaissance from Russian territory.