North Korea acknowledges the deployment of troops to Russia, praising them as ‘heroes’

On Monday, North Korea officially acknowledged for the first time that it had dispatched troops to support Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, following directives from leader Kim Jong Un. The North claimed its forces played a role in reclaiming Russian territory previously held by Ukraine.

The successful conclusion of the operation to liberate the Kursk region was described as a demonstration of the ‘highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship’ between North Korea and Russia, according to the KCNA state news agency, which cited the ruling party.

Last week, Russia announced that Ukrainian troops had been driven out of the last village they occupied, a claim that Kyiv refuted, asserting that its forces remained active in Belgorod, another Russian region adjacent to Ukraine.

The Central Military Commission of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party indicated that Kim Jong Un authorized the troop deployment as part of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty he signed with Putin last year. Under Kim’s command, North Korean military units engaged in combat with the same dedication they would exhibit if defending their own nation, as reported by KCNA.

‘Those who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,’ KCNA quoted Kim as stating. North Korea expressed that it considers it an honor to ally with a powerful nation like the Russian Federation.

In response, the U.S. State Department called for an end to North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia and any reciprocal support from Russia, asserting that such actions violate U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding the training of North Korean soldiers.

A spokesperson for the State Department remarked that nations like North Korea, whose backing has ‘prolonged the Russia-Ukraine war, bear responsibility.’ South Korea characterized the confirmation of troop deployment as an ‘admission of criminal act’ and condemned North Korea for the ‘inhumane and immoral’ choice to send its youth into battle to bolster its regime.

Ukrainian officials reported that North Korea deployed approximately 14,000 troops, which included 3,000 reinforcements to compensate for their losses. Despite facing significant casualties due to a lack of armored vehicles and experience in drone warfare, these troops adapted swiftly.

On April 24, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces announced the elimination of a unit comprising 25 North Korean soldiers in Kursk, releasing a video that featured one of the deceased soldiers along with their belongings, including a note in Korean.

Additionally, South Korean officials indicated that North Korea has provided various weapons, such as artillery shells and ballistic missiles.

For the first time, Russia confirmed on Saturday that North Korean soldiers have been engaged in combat alongside Russian forces in Kursk, a detail that had not been acknowledged by either Russia or North Korea prior to this.