Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Korean People's Army service members fought and died alongside Russian troops in the Kursk Region to liberate it from "Ukrainian Nazis," a contribution he said Russia would never forget. His remarks came during a meeting in Moscow with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to handle captured North Korean soldiers on humanitarian grounds, respecting their wishes. The agreement was reached during a summit on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Two soldiers, identified as South Korean nationals, were captured in Kursk in early 2025. Seoul considers the entire Korean peninsula its territory, making them citizens. Kyiv seeks South Korean arms amid Western supply struggles, while Seoul hesitates due to the active war zone.
Kim Jong Un praised North Korean soldiers who killed themselves by detonating grenades while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, calling them 'heroes'. South Korea estimates at least 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to help Russia in Kursk, with over 6,000 killed. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have confirmed these numbers.
Kim Jong Un and Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov unveiled a memorial in Pyongyang for North Korean soldiers killed fighting in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence estimates at least 15,000 North Korean troops have been sent to help Russia in Kursk, with about 2,000 killed. The memorial opening coincided with Russia's claimed recovery of Kursk, a year after Ukraine's surprise incursion.
A memorial museum honoring North Korean soldiers killed in war was unveiled in Pyongyang on Sunday, with observers saying it reflects Russia and North Korea's deepening anti-West partnership. Moscow has offered to sign a new five-year bilateral military cooperation plan with Pyongyang, stemming from Russia's need for manpower and North Korea's pursuit of military and technological advancement.
More than 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region, where Kyiv staged an incursion in 2024. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a memorial ceremony for the fallen troops and pledged continued support for Russia's policies defending its sovereignty and security interests.
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov awarded Orders of Courage to North Korean servicemen who demonstrated valor during the operation to liberate Russia's Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces. The ceremony in Pyongyang honored soldiers sent under a comprehensive partnership treaty signed in July 2024. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol thanked Russian counterparts for recognizing the soldiers' merits.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed gratitude to North Korean soldiers who participated in combat operations in the Kursk Region, speaking at the opening of a memorial complex in Pyongyang. The memorial honors the heroism and sacrifices of Korean People's Army servicemen who fought alongside Russian forces. Putin emphasized the soldiers demonstrated exceptional courage and genuine selflessness, calling their feats unfading glory that will remain in the hearts of every Russian citizen.
Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin met with North Korean officials in Pyongyang to express gratitude for Korea's assistance in what Russia calls the fight against neo-Nazi invaders. Volodin, on instructions from President Putin, thanked Chairman Kim Jong Un and the Korean people, noting that Russia will cherish the memory of fallen Korean soldiers. A Museum of Military Exploits and memorial complex was opened in Pyongyang at Kim Jong Un's initiative, described as a monument to Russian-Korean brotherhood in arms.
