North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Praises Troops Returning From Russia Mission
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
Pyongyang / Dec12 (GeokHub) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly welcomed back a military engineering unit that completed a deployment in Russia, state media reported, reflecting Pyongyang’s deepening military cooperation with Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Kim presided over a ceremony in Pyongyang honoring the 528th Regiment of Engineers after their roughly 120-day mission in the Russian Kursk region, where they carried out both combat and engineering tasks, according to North Korea’s official news agency. The event was attended by military leaders, senior officials and families of returning soldiers.
In his remarks, Kim commended the troops for their “heroic” conduct and mass loyalty to the state, describing their service as a model for the Korean People’s Army. He also said the regiment would be awarded the Order of Freedom and Independence, one of the country’s highest honors. North Korea acknowledged the deaths of nine soldiers during the mission, describing their sacrifice as “heartrending,” and said they would receive the title Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea along with other state honours.
The deployment underscores the growing military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow under a comprehensive strategic alliance. North Korea has dispatched troops and military support to assist Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, a move that has drawn international concern. Reports from outside analysts estimate thousands of North Korean forces have participated in operations on Russian soil, with significantly higher casualty figures than those acknowledged by Pyongyang.
