Kim Jong Un Opens Memorial for N.Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unveiled a memorial museum in Pyongyang for soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The ceremony marked what Russia described as the first anniversary of its recapture of parts of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion in 2024.

During the event, Kim pledged continued support for Russia's policies and discussed bolstering military ties with Moscow. According to state media KCNA, Kim assured Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov that North Korea would 'as ever fully support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests'. He described Russia's war in Ukraine as a 'sacred war' and expressed confidence that Russia would win.

Kim threw dirt over the remains of one dead soldier at the opening ceremony. Bunches of white balloons floated overhead as soldiers stood to attention beside graves adorned with flowers. In a letter read during the ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the museum as 'a clear symbol of friendship and solidarity' between Russia and North Korea.

South Korean intelligence estimates suggest around 15,000 North Korean troops were deployed to assist Russian forces in Kursk, with casualties ranging from approximately 2,000 to over 6,000. In return for providing soldiers, North Korea is believed to have received food, money, and technical help from Moscow. Analysts estimate Pyongyang may have earned up to $14.4 billion through arms sales, labor exports, and related assistance.

Russian officials present at the ceremony included Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. According to Russian news agencies, Belousov discussed long-term military cooperation with North Korean officials, agreeing to sign a roadmap covering 2027 to 2031. The agreement points to preparations for the post-Ukraine war period.

The ceremony included a burial rite for repatriated remains and a memorial concert called 'Stars of the Motherland'. Kim has been elevating North Korean troops who fought in Kursk as symbols of sacrifice and loyalty through state ceremonies and memorial projects. The event underscored deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea, which signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in 2024.

Meanwhile, South Korea's army plans to train '500,000 drone troops' as drones rapidly emerge as a core weapon in modern warfare. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha announced the initiative during a policy briefing at Gyeryongdae, highlighting the transition to 'Army Tiger Plus' and early expansion of drone capabilities. The plan includes introducing battalion-level suicide drones and embedding drone operation skills across the force.

During his speech, Kim publicly praised North Korean soldiers who chose self-destruction over capture by Ukrainian forces. He honored troops who 'unhesitatingly chose the path of self-destruction and suicide' rather than surrender, marking the first time he has directly acknowledged this extreme battlefield policy. This revelation underscores the ideological intensity imposed on North Korean forces and highlights the deepening military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Former U.S. Six-Party Talks envoy Joseph DeTrani stated that Kim Jong Un still wants to normalize relations with the United States but demands recognition of North Korea as a nuclear weapons state. DeTrani noted that U.S. leverage in negotiations has weakened due to Pyongyang's expanded nuclear and missile capabilities and the support from China and Russia. He emphasized maintaining complete, verifiable denuclearization as the ultimate goal while pursuing interim freeze measures.

DeTrani highlighted North Korea's significant military advancements, including the development of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the entire United States and plans to build nuclear-capable destroyers and submarines. He also noted Kim's recent visits to naval facilities and the construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine.

DeTrani warned against assuming a permanent alignment among North Korea, China, and Russia due to historical distrust between Pyongyang and Beijing and geopolitical competition between Moscow and Beijing. He estimated that North Korea now possesses 50 to 60 nuclear weapons and could expand its arsenal to 100 within several years.