Kim Jong-un Announces North Korean Troops Cleared Landmines in Russia's Kursk Region
Kim Jong-un announced that North Korean troops have cleared landmines in Russia's Kursk region, according to remarks carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). An engineering regiment recently returned from a Ukraine-related mission, during which nine soldiers died over a 120-day deployment that began in August.
Kim awarded the deceased state honours and stated that the unit had transformed the danger zone into a safe area in under three months. During the mine-clearing hours, soldiers reportedly wrote letters to their hometowns, a detail that Kim highlighted during the ceremony.
Several troops were injured in the operation, including at least one soldier who was seen in a wheelchair. Kim consoled families and paid respects to portraits of the deceased. North Korea has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Analysts note that in return, Moscow provides financial aid, military technology, food, and energy, which helps Pyongyang evade sanctions.
North Korea publicly confirmed its deployment to support Russia in April and acknowledged fatalities. Previous ceremonies in July and August showed emotional displays by Kim. The recent ceremony took place at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang. Notably, Kim did not respond to Donald Trump's offer to meet during Trump's Asia trip in October.
