The Monument to the Military Achievements of North Korea's Overseas Operations Unveiled, Putin Highly Praises Russia-North Korea "Brotherhood in Battle"

On April 26, the Monument to the Military Achievements of North Korea's Overseas Operations was officially inaugurated in Pyongyang. The monument was specifically built to honor North Korean soldiers who participated in military operations supporting Russia’s campaign in Ukraine. April 26 has been designated by Pyongyang as the "Liberation Day of Kursk Oblast." On April 26, 2025, Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov reported to President Putin that the operation to liberate Kursk Oblast from Ukrainian armed forces had concluded.

In addition to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov attended the event. Volodin read a congratulatory letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the attendees. In the letter, Putin recalled the "glorious history of brotherhood in battle" between the Russian and North Korean armed forces, emphasizing, "The North Korean personnel who fought alongside their Russian comrades demonstrated heroic dedication. Their immortal achievements will forever be engraved in the hearts of every Russian citizen." Belousov then presented the Russian Medal "Courage" to North Korean soldiers who had assisted in securing Kursk Oblast.

The ceremony featured performances of the national anthems of both Russia and North Korea. Kim Jong-un highly praised the strategic significance of the "Liberation Operation of Kursk," stating that the joint efforts of Russian and North Korean troops, united in their commitment to just ideals, achieved victory in combat—this being of critical importance in preventing the resurgence of fascism and curbing the military ambitions of hegemonic powers. He also expressed gratitude to the Russian leadership for their sincere efforts in developing the bilateral alliance.

A dedicated exhibition hall within the monument displays military equipment captured by North Korean forces from Ukrainian units, including Leopard 2A4 tanks, M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, VAB armored personnel carriers, and Turkish-made Kirpi hedgehog armored vehicles.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863639742469120/

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