North Korea Honors Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War with New Memorial
North Korea erects a monument in honour of the soldiers lost in the conflict in Ukraine. Construction has begun on a memorial honouring North Korean soldiers who lost their lives in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
The state news agency KCNA reported on Friday that North Korea has performed a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial for its soldiers who died while battling with Russian troops in Russia’s war with Ukraine.
At the inauguration for the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats in the capital, Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un celebrated what he described as a “historic peak” in relations with Russia.
“Moscow will always be with Pyongyang. Our unity and friendship shall endure forever,” Kim declared.The museum, according to Kim, “is a sacred sanctuary dedicated to the immortality of true patriots.”
According to Kim, the memorial will include photographs and artwork depicting the fighting, as well as sculptures honouring the North Korean soldiers who have served in Russia.
North Korea and Russia have a mutual defence agreement. North Korea accepted the mutual defence deal between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in November 2024.
According to the treaty, both nations must immediately use “all means” to support one another militarily in the event that one of them experiences “aggression.”
Although there had been months-long rumours about North Korean troops in Ukraine, North Korea finally acknowledged sending troops to Russia in April 2025.
North Korea sent about 14,000 troops, including 3,000 reinforcements, along with military engineers and others to the conflict, according to Ukraine’s April estimate.
Additionally, since 2023, it has sent billions of dollars’ worth of armaments, including rockets, missiles, and artillery ammunition, in exchange for Russian military and economic support.
Growing numbers of North Korean soldiers killed in Russia South Korea’s intelligence service estimated in September that at least 2,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed in Russia’s Kursk region on the Ukrainian border.
This represents a significant increase in the number of fatalities in a short period of time. According to the spy agency’s April estimate, about 600 North Korean soldiers had lost their lives in combat in Russia.
There have been far more injuries. According to KCNA, a groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by the Russian ambassador to North Korea and other Russian embassy representatives.
SOURCE: DW News
