In a move that formalizes the military alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov inaugurated a memorial museum yesterday dedicated to North Korean troops killed fighting alongside Russian forces.
The ceremony, held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Pyongyang, marks the first time North Korea has publicly and institutionally commemorated its casualties in the Ukraine conflict. The event was timed to coincide with the first anniversary of Russia’s full recapture of the Kursk region, an operation where North Korean “volunteers” reportedly played a decisive role.
The “Memorial Museum of Combat Feats”
The new facility, officially named the “Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at Overseas Military Operations,” features a central statue and exhibits honoring the sacrifice of North Korean personnel.
Key Ceremony Details:
- Participants: Kim Jong Un, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, and Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.
- Symbolism: Military aircraft conducted a flyover across Pyongyang, and white balloons were released to honor the fallen.
- Kim’s Address: Kim Jong Un described the alliance as being “forged in blood” and vowed to maintain a “powerful bulwark” with Russia against Western influence.
The Human Cost: Intelligence Estimates
While neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has released official casualty figures, South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have provided detailed estimates of North Korea’s involvement:
- Deployment: Approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia, primarily concentrated in the Kursk region.
- Fatalities: South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that roughly 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the conflict.
- Total Casualties: Including the wounded, the NIS suggests the total casualty count could be as high as 6,000.
Strategic Exchange: “Food and Tech for Blood”
The alliance is built on a transactional foundation that benefits both regimes:
- For Russia: Access to thousands of additional combat troops and millions of rounds of artillery ammunition.
- For North Korea: In exchange for its soldiers, Pyongyang is believed to be receiving food aid, significant financial transfers, and technical assistance for its missile and satellite programs.
- Post-War Labor: Reports indicate that North Korea has also committed thousands of workers to assist in the reconstruction of the Kursk region.
A Long-Term Military Pact
During the visit, Minister Belousov announced that Moscow is prepared to sign a “Russian-Korean Military Cooperation Plan for 2027–2031” later this year. This follows the June 2024 mutual defense pact, which Kim Jong Un described as the “strongest ever” agreement between the two nations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a letter for the inauguration, praising the North Korean soldiers for their “courage and heroism” in repelling Ukrainian forces from Russian territory.
