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Russia Promises Monument for North Korean Troops Fighting for Russia
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has promised to erect a monument to North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces against Ukraine, The Moscow Times reported on March 24.
Lavrov stated that the assistance from Pyongyang in the Kursk region represented the “practical embodiment” of the strategic partnership treaty signed between the two nations. This announcement follows a reciprocal gesture in Pyongyang, where a sculpture complex was recently unveiled to honor North Korean troops killed while fighting on the Russian side.
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The monument, designated to celebrate the “combat brotherhood” between Russia and North Korea, will be installed in the Kursk region with support from the Ministry of Defense. While Moscow is eager to publicize the alliance, the partnership remains asymmetrical; in Pyongyang, recent ceremonies honoring “overseas military heroes” notably avoided mentioning Russia by name, according to The Moscow Times.
South Korean intelligence stated that North Korea has deployed over 20,000 troops to Russia since October 2024, suffering an estimated 6,000 casualties. Analysts suggest the Kremlin may have paid up to $14.4 billion for this military support and weaponry, which proved decisive for Russia during the battles in the Kursk region.
As of March 2026, approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers remain stationed in the frontline zone. The deployment was formalized under a treaty signed by Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, which mandates mutual military assistance in the event of aggression. Lavrov emphasized that Moscow intends to match the honors recently bestowed upon North Korean veterans in Pyongyang to solidify the burgeoning military alliance, The Moscow Times wrote.
The formalization of the military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang reached a symbolic peak as both nations moved to memorialize their shared combat operations. North Korea had previously unveiled its own museum and memorial complex in Pyongyang dedicated to soldiers who died fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
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