North Korea Opens Museum Honoring Troops Killed in Russian Service

North Korea Opens Memorial Museum for Soldiers Killed Fighting with Russian Forces in Ukraine

A memorial museum has been opened in Pyongyang, North Korea, to honor its soldiers who were killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine. The inaugural ceremony took place on Sunday, attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and senior Russian officials.

The event also marked the first anniversary of what the two countries describe as the end of an operation to “liberate” Russia’s Kursk border region from a Ukrainian incursion. According to reports, North Korea deployed approximately 15,000 soldiers to fight in the region, with around 2,000 killed.

During the ceremony, Kim Jong Un attended the event along with Russian officials, including State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov. The two leaders signed a guestbook at the newly opened museum, which is expected to serve as a symbol of the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

In his speech, Kim Jong Un praised the fallen North Korean troops, stating that they would remain “a symbol of the Korean people’s heroism”. He also accused the United States and its allies of pursuing a “hegemonic plot and military adventurism” on the Russia-Ukraine front. Separately, Kim pledged full support for Russia’s policy of defending its sovereignty and security interests.

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov stated that Moscow is ready to sign a military cooperation plan with Pyongyang covering 2027-31. Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended the event, pledging to further strengthen the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries. The museum’s opening marks a significant development in the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea, which has been strengthened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Source: Al Jazeera