North Korea Publicly Recognizes Soldiers’ Deployment in Russia-Ukraine War

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally welcomed soldiers returning from an overseas deployment in Russia’s Kursk region, state media reported Wednesday, in a rare acknowledgment of the country’s military involvement in Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Kim attending a parade honoring the returning troops, greeting injured soldiers and meeting with relatives of those killed during the mission.

The KCNA described the troops’ work as a demonstration of “mass heroism” and “loyalty to the nation.”

The deployment involved members of North Korea’s 528th Engineer Regiment, who reportedly spent several months assisting Russian forces, including clearing minefields and providing engineering support.

KCNA said Kim awarded the unit with the Order of Freedom and Independence 1st Class and posthumously honored nine soldiers who died during the mission.