North Korea Confirms Troop Deployment to Russia's Kursk Region


SEOUL (Jiji Press) — North Korea’s Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party announced on the 27th that North Korean military units participated in a "liberation operation" in Russia’s western Kursk region, following cross-border attacks by Ukrainian forces.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the news on the 28th. This marks the first time North Korea has officially acknowledged the deployment of its troops to assist Russia. The announcement was also published in North Korea’s official party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun.

According to the commission, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un decided to dispatch troops under Article 4 of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which stipulates conditions for mutual military intervention in case of emergencies between North Korea and Russia.

The commission stated that the liberation operation "concluded in victory," highlighting that North Korean troops made "significant contributions" and "demonstrated the strategic strength of the alliance."

Kim Jong-un praised the troops, calling them "representatives of the nation's honor," and announced that a monument commemorating their combat achievements would soon be erected in the capital. He also confirmed that there were casualties among the North Korean soldiers and instructed that the families of the fallen be given special treatment.

According to South Korean authorities, the clashes are estimated to have resulted in over 4,000 casualties. Analysts believe North Korea decided to make the troop deployment public to manage potential unrest among the families of the soldiers and the general population.