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North Korea Unveils War Memorial for Troops Killed Fighting for Russia in Ukraine
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North Korea is constructing a museum dedicated to the country’s soldiers who died while fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to Yonhap News Agency on January 26, the Memorial Museum of Heroic Deeds in Overseas Military Operations has been under development in Pyongyang since October 2024.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently inspected the production of large-scale sculptures intended for display in the museum.
State-run media outlet KCNA published images showing Kim overseeing monumental stone reliefs and a tower being prepared by the Mansudae Art Studio, the country’s premier government-run facility for propaganda art. The sculptures depict battle scenes and uniformed soldiers at up to three times life size.
During his visit, Kim stated that the museum’s exhibits will “convey to future generations the legendary feats and glorious lives” of North Korean troops who participated in combat abroad.
He emphasized the importance of “expressing artistic excellence in every detail” to ensure visitors feel the “invincibility” of the fallen soldiers. He also claimed that the troops demonstrated a universal truth: “Those with strong spirit always prevail.”
KCNA reported that the ruling Workers’ Party decided the museum should serve as a “monumental creation for all time,” honoring the “best sons of Korea” and their overseas sacrifices.
According to Yonhap, the Memorial Museum is expected to include not only indoor exhibitions but also outdoor installations celebrating North Korean soldiers who took part in Russia’s military campaign.
In October 2024, North Korean and Russian officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in Pyongyang. Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora attended alongside Kim Jong Un. At the time, Kim described the future museum as a “sacred place” and praised his forces for contributing to what he called a “decisive victory” against “neo-Nazi invaders.”
NATO previously stated that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops were deployed to support Russian operations in Ukraine’s Kursk region in 2024. An estimated 1,500 were killed and 3,500 wounded, according to the alliance.
In January 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published photographs of two North Korean soldiers captured on the battlefield—marking the first official confirmation of North Korea’s military involvement in the war.
In April 2025, Pyongyang formally acknowledged both the deployment of troops and the supply of weapons to Russia. Western intelligence reports and Ukrainian sources had previously pointed to such activity, but North Korea had not confirmed its participation until that point.
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