North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a welcoming ceremony on Friday for the 528th Regiment of Engineers of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) upon their return from a deployment in Russia. According to the state-run KCNA news agency, Kim praised the troops for their “heroic” conduct and commitment during their 120-day overseas mission, which involved combat and engineering tasks in the Kursk region.
Video footage released by North Korea depicted uniformed soldiers disembarking from an aircraft, with Kim embracing a soldier in a wheelchair amid a large gathering of military officials and families. The regiment had been dispatched in early August 2023 to assist Russian forces during the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. In recent reports, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that North Korean troops contributed significantly to repelling a major Ukrainian incursion and are now engaged in mine-clearing operations in the area.
The relationship between North Korea and Russia has been bolstered by a mutual defense pact, which saw the deployment of approximately 14,000 North Korean soldiers to support Russian operations last year. Reports from South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western sources indicate that over 6,000 soldiers from this group have been killed in combat. Kim’s speech at the ceremony marked the loss of nine soldiers during the mission, describing their deaths as a “heartrending loss.” He announced that the regiment would receive the Order of Freedom and Independence and that the fallen soldiers would be honored with the title of Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
At the ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim expressed his admiration for the regiment’s performance under combat conditions, highlighting their “absolute loyalty” to the party and the state. He emphasized the importance of political indoctrination, discipline, and unity among the troops, declaring their efforts a model for the armed forces.
North Korea has been actively recognizing its military personnel who participated in the conflict in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Kim lauded the troops during a meeting with military officers involved in overseas operations. State media have also shown him participating in ceremonies to repatriate deceased soldiers, draping their coffins with the national flag, thus underscoring the regime’s commitment to honoring its military forces.
The welcoming ceremony served as a reminder of the ongoing military collaboration between North Korea and Russia, illustrating the complexities of international relations amid the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict.
