Pyongyang, North Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared the partnership between North Korea and Russia as an “invincible alliance,” marking one year since his country’s troops joined Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The commemoration coincided with the opening of a Memorial Museum of Combat Feats in Pyongyang, built to honor North Korean soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Kursk.

At Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Kim hailed the deployment of North Korean soldiers to the Russian frontlines as the beginning of a “new era of militant solidarity” between Pyongyang and Moscow. The event, attended by senior military officials and families of fallen soldiers, underlined North Korea’s growing military and ideological ties with Russia.

“The years of militant fraternity, forged in blood, will continue to advance without interruption,” Kim said, according to KCNA, North Korea’s state news agency. “No challenges of domination or tyranny can hinder the strong bonds between our two nations.”

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Honoring Soldiers of the “Overseas Military Operations”

The new museum, located in the North Korean capital, will include a cemetery, memorial hall, and monument dedicated to what Pyongyang calls its “overseas detachments.” Kim described the project as a historic first, intended to permanently enshrine the sacrifices of soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces.

“This museum will forever preserve the shining legacy of our heroes — the defenders of justice and the excellent sons of the Korean people,” Kim said.

The ceremony follows a year of North Korea publicly celebrating its troops’ participation in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — an involvement that Western and NATO intelligence agencies confirmed in late 2024.

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From Allegations to Alliance: A Year of Military Cooperation

Reports first surfaced in October 2024 that North Korean troops were operating in Russia’s Kursk region, where they helped repel Ukrainian incursions. A month later, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Treaty of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a mutual defense pact committing both nations to provide “all means of assistance” if either faces aggression.

In April 2025, North Korea officially acknowledged that its troops had fought in combat operations to “annihilate the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area.” According to KCNA, North Korean forces contributed to regaining territory previously held by Ukrainian units.

Kyiv and Seoul estimate that more than 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to assist the Russian army. In return, Pyongyang allegedly received economic aid and advanced weapons technology, including assistance in submarine and drone development.

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Heavy Casualties and Ongoing Operations

While North Korea has portrayed its soldiers as heroes, reports suggest significant battlefield losses. South Korea’s intelligence agency estimated in September 2025 that around 2,000 North Korean troops had been killed, while Ukrainian sources said that Pyongyang withdrew several units earlier in the year following “heavy casualties.”

Recent intelligence updates indicate that some North Korean forces remain active in Russia, primarily in drone reconnaissance missions. Ukraine’s General Staff claimed in October that its defense forces had intercepted communications between North Korean drone operators and Russian personnel — the first confirmation in months of ongoing North Korean battlefield activity.

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Strategic and Political Implications

The deepening Russia–North Korea military alliance has raised alarm in Washington, Seoul, and among NATO member states, who view it as a potential shift in global power dynamics.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said earlier this month that North Korea likely received technical support for submarine development in exchange for its participation in the war. Analysts suggest that Pyongyang’s growing military cooperation with Moscow may help both nations circumvent international sanctions and share critical military technologies.

The new memorial in Pyongyang also serves a domestic political purpose, reinforcing Kim’s narrative of “heroic internationalism” while rallying public support behind the nation’s expanding global military ambitions.

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📰 Key Highlights

• Kim Jong Un opens a new war memorial in Pyongyang to honor North Korean troops who fought in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
• The event marks one year since North Korea’s deployment to the Kursk front.
• Russia–North Korea alliance grows stronger under the 2024 defense pact.
• Intelligence sources confirm continued North Korean military activity in Russia.
• Casualty estimates exceed 2,000 soldiers, with speculation of ongoing cooperation in drone and submarine technologies.