Overview
- North Korea inaugurated the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats in Pyongyang on Sunday, with Kim Jong Un presiding and Russia’s Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov attending.
- Vladimir Putin sent a message for the opening that praised North Korean soldiers who fought in Russia’s Kursk region and honored those killed.
- Belousov told Kim that Moscow is ready to sign a Russian–North Korean military cooperation plan for 2027–2031 this year, indicating more structured, long-term coordination.
- Ceremonies included Russian awards for Korean People’s Army personnel who took part in the Kursk fighting, and Kim pledged continued support for Russia’s sovereignty and security goals.
- South Korea’s intelligence agency estimates roughly 15,000 North Korean troops were deployed to support Russia, with thousands killed or wounded, a scale that has fueled concern over a deepening, institutional military partnership.