August M
After months of silence, North Korea’s leader has publicly acknowledged that his soldiers were deployed to Russia during the war in Ukraine. The admission came during a highly choreographed ceremony that praised troops for what he described as “heroic” service.
The Mirror reported that the confirmation marks the first time Kim Jong Un has openly thanked North Korean forces for operating in support of Vladimir Putin’s campaign.
Breaking the silence
Kim said North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia’s Kursk region earlier this year to assist with mine clearance.
North Korean troops had previously been spotted alongside Russian forces, and some were captured during fighting, but Pyongyang had not formally admitted their presence.
At the ceremony on Friday, Kim thanked returning soldiers, including some who were visibly injured and using wheelchairs. Nine troops were killed during the mission, according to his speech.
More than 50,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia launched its invasion, according to the United Nations.
Praised as heroes
Kim praised the soldiers’ loyalty and ideological commitment, describing their actions as proof of devotion to the regime. “All of you, both officers and soldiers, displayed mass heroism overcoming unimaginable mental and physical burdens almost every day,” he said.
He was shown hugging troops who had returned to Pyongyang and announced that the nine men who died would be awarded the title Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The deployment was framed as a success by North Korean and Russian officials.
Earlier revelations
In February, Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers alive. One claimed he did not know he would be sent to fight and believed he was travelling to Russia as an overseas student.
He said he wanted to flee to South Korea and asked: “If I apply for asylum, would they take me?”
Kim only confirmed troop deployments publicly in April. South Korean intelligence has previously estimated that as many as 15,000 North Koreans may have been working in Russia this year.
Sources: Mirror, UN, South Korean intelligence
