"The valor and heroism shown by North Korean soldiers during the operation to liberate the Kursk region from Ukrainian militants will remain in history," North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said while inspecting the construction site of the Memorial Museum of Military Deeds in Overseas Military Operations, KCNA reported.
"The unparalleled valor and mass heroism shown by our soldiers in the overseas military operation should rightfully be inscribed in history as a banner of victory," the head of state stressed.
Kim Jong-un inspected the construction, production and installation of the sculptures, praising the quality of bas-reliefs decorating the exterior walls of the building. He noted that the Memorial Museum of Military Deeds in Overseas Military Operations is not just an architectural structure, but the essence of the party, the motherland and the people's deep respect for the sacred spirit of the eternally immortal soldier-heroes, a pedestal of dignity and honor.
Kim Jong-un stressed the need for “impeccable perfection of all construction details in ideological and artistic terms“ and outlined several tasks and ways to eliminate shortcomings.
The North Korean leader stressed that all participants in the construction should “keep a noble sense of reverence in their hearts” and “to erect the memorial museum as a sacred temple, a monumental monument of the era, which will forever remain unfading as a symbol of the heroism and immortality of the fallen soldiers“.
The leader was accompanied by Ju Chan-il, head of a department in the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, commanders of army units involved in the construction, and senior officials in the design and creative departments.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that Russia was deeply grateful to the DPRK for its help in liberating the Kursk region from Ukrainian militants and that the military brotherhood between Moscow and Pyongyang would be realized in mutually beneficial cooperation projects for the benefit of the peoples of both countries. He also noted that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with the DPRK, which has entered into force, has made a “significant contribution to the creation of a Eurasian security architecture“.
About 6,000 North Korean soldiers have died or been wounded fighting on the side of Russia against Ukraine. This was reported by the South Korean Yonhap Agency, quoted by FOCUS, referring to the National Intelligence Service of South Korea.
"According to intelligence estimates, 6,000 North Korean soldiers have died or been wounded“, the agency quoted the source.
According to intelligence, about 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently in the frontline Kursk region of Russia. Of these, about 10,000 are combat units, and another thousand are engineering troops.
In addition, about 1,100 military personnel who returned to North Korea in December 2025 may be sent back to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine.
Despite significant losses, South Korean intelligence claims that the North Korean army has achieved practical results from its participation in the hostilities.
"Despite 6,000 casualties, the North Korean army has achieved results in the form of acquiring modern combat tactics on the battlefield, as well as modernizing its weapons systems with the technical assistance of Russia," the statement said.