Post by : Rameen Ariff

Pyongyang has acknowledged that its troops were deployed to assist Russia by clearing mines in the Kursk region earlier this year, in a rare official confirmation of its soldiers’ role in Moscow’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un highlighted the contribution of the engineering regiment during a speech carried by state media on Saturday, praising their bravery and resilience.

According to South Korean and Western intelligence sources, Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to support Russia in various capacities, including battlefield operations and engineering tasks. Analysts suggest that in return, Russia has provided North Korea with financial aid, military technology, as well as food and energy supplies. This support has enabled the isolated nation to bypass strict international sanctions imposed on its nuclear and missile programs.

Kim Jong Un personally welcomed the returning regiment, noting that the soldiers maintained contact with their families through letters even during breaks from dangerous mine-clearing operations. The deployment, which began in August and lasted 120 days, saw the deaths of nine soldiers, who were posthumously awarded state honours to commemorate their courage and sacrifice.

“Every officer and soldier displayed extraordinary heroism, overcoming unimaginable mental and physical challenges almost daily,” Kim said. He added that the troops accomplished a remarkable feat, transforming a large danger zone into a secure area in under three months.

Images released by North Korea’s state media, KCNA, showed Kim warmly embracing returning soldiers, some of whom were visibly injured or using wheelchairs. Other photographs captured Kim consoling the families of the fallen and paying respect to the deceased, kneeling before portraits and placing medals and flowers beside them. The leader also expressed the emotional toll of waiting for the soldiers’ return over the four-month deployment.

North Korea had first confirmed in April that it had deployed troops to support Russian operations, including acknowledging casualties in combat. Previous ceremonies in Pyongyang and state media coverage have shown Kim honoring returning soldiers and mourning the dead, emphasizing their sacrifice and the close ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.

The deployment comes at a time when North Korea continues to strengthen its ties with Russia and China, following Kim’s appearance alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Beijing in September. Despite diplomatic offers from the United States, including a proposed meeting with former President Donald Trump during his Asia tour, Kim has maintained his firm alignment with Russia and China.

North Korea’s public acknowledgment of the mine-clearing mission underlines the country’s active participation in the Ukraine conflict and its strategic partnership with Russia, while also highlighting the risks and sacrifices faced by its soldiers abroad.

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