Kim Opens Museum for North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov unveiled a statue and opened a museum dedicated to soldiers killed in the war in Ukraine. The ceremony included military flyovers and the release of white balloons.

The exact number of North Korean soldiers involved in the fighting remains unclear, but South Korean intelligence estimates that at least 15,000 troops were deployed. According to those estimates, around 2,000 were killed. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has released official figures.

In return for sending troops, North Korea was expected to receive food, financial support and technical assistance.

The opening of the museum coincided with what Russia describes as the anniversary of its recapture of part of the Kursk region.

Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into the area in August 2024, and Russia says it regained full control a year later.

During the meeting, Kim expressed support for Russia’s policy of protecting its sovereignty and security.

At the same time, the two countries continue to deepen military cooperation, reinforced by their 2024 mutual assistance agreement.

(bbc, bak)