CaliToday (/2025): PYONGYANG — In a rare and somber admission of the deadly reality facing his forces abroad, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly acknowledged that his troops were deployed to clear landmines in Russia's war-torn Kursk region.
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| A picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 13 showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (at podium) attending a welcoming ceremony for the Korean People's Army's 528th Regiment of Engineers, which returned from an overseas deployment in Russia's Kursk region during Moscow's war with Ukraine (STR) |
The revelation came during a highly emotional welcome ceremony in Pyongyang on Friday, where the leader was seen embracing wounded soldiers and kneeling before the portraits of those who did not return.
A Hazardous 120-Day Mission
Speaking to a returned engineering regiment, Kim detailed their grueling 120-day deployment, which began in August. This marks the first time Pyongyang has explicitly confirmed the specific, high-risk tasks assigned to its soldiers supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now nearing its four-year mark.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim praised the troops for working "a miracle" by transforming a vast, danger-ridden zone into a safe area in under three months.
"All of you... displayed mass heroism overcoming unimaginable mental and physical burdens almost every day," Kim stated in his address, revealing that the soldiers wrote "letters to their hometowns and villages at breaks of the mine-clearing hours."
The Human Cost of the "Blood Alliance"
The ceremony provided a stark visual of the war's toll. State media released images of a visibly emotional Kim Jong Un clasping the hands of returned soldiers, some of whom were seated in wheelchairs, their bodies bearing the scars of the conflict.
In a break from his usual stoic persona, Kim was depicted:
Consoling families: Comforting the grieving relatives of the fallen.
Paying respects: Kneeling before the portraits of deceased soldiers, placing flowers and medals beside their images.
Awarding Honors: Granting state honors to the nine members of the regiment who died during the mission, stating these awards would add "eternal lustre" to their bravery.
Kim spoke of the "pain of waiting" during their absence, claiming he had "never forgotten the beloved sons even for a moment."
Geopolitical Implications: Assessment & Context
Intelligence analysts view this public ceremony as a strategic message. By highlighting the sacrifice of his troops, Kim is solidifying the narrative of a "blood alliance" with Moscow.
The Quid Pro Quo: In exchange for this military support, Russia is reportedly providing North Korea with a lifeline including financial aid, advanced military technology, food, and energy. This assistance has allowed Pyongyang to effectively sidestep crippling international sanctions targeting its nuclear ambitions.
Diplomatic Posturing: The deepening ties were on full display in September, when Kim appeared alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing. Conversely, Kim pointedly ignored a meeting offer from U.S. President Donald Trump during his Asia trip in October, signaling a clear shift away from Washington's diplomacy.
While Pyongyang only officially confirmed the combat deployment of its troops in April, reports of casualties have been circulating for months. Earlier in July, state media broadcast footage of Kim honoring flag-draped coffins, foreshadowing the more explicit admissions made this week.
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, the presence of North Korean combat engineers in regions like Kursk underscores the conflict's expanding international dimension, with Pyongyang playing an increasingly direct role on the Russian front lines.
Source: KCNA, International Intelligence Reports