【By Guan察者网, Ruan Jiaqi】

According to TASS, on Friday local time, Russian President's press secretary Peskov said at a press conference that Russia will always remember the key role played by the North Korean army in the mine clearance operation in Kursk region, and Moscow expressed deep gratitude for North Korea's "selfless heroic assistance."

When responding to the question of "how to evaluate the assistance of the North Korean army in mine clearance," Peskov said, "Our North Korean friends have given us great support, and we highly appreciate it."

"We will never forget the assistance provided by North Korea in the mine clearance work in Kursk," he added. "The mine clearance work is still ongoing, and this task is both dangerous and arduous."

On August 6, 2024, Ukrainian forces crossed the border between Ukraine's Sumy region and Russia's Kursk region, quickly capturing the Russian border city of Sujha, controlling hundreds of residential areas and thousands of square kilometers of Russian territory. Afterward, Russia and Ukraine engaged in a Kursk battle lasting about seven months.

This May, after the basic end of the Kursk battle, official statements from Russia and North Korea confirmed that their armies had conducted "joint operations" in Kursk. In August, North Korea first disclosed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the Korean People's Army to deploy to the Russian Kursk area to participate in the war three weeks after the Ukrainian forces "struck" Kursk on August 28, 2024.

TASS reported that as one of the consensus reached under the 2024 Russia-North Korea "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty," the North Korean engineering detachment, established according to Kim Jong-un's order, is deployed to Kursk to cooperate with the Russian side in mine clearance operations.

According to the Russian State News Agency, on Friday, the governor of Kursk region, Shynshtain, also announced on social media that over 90 residential areas in the region have completed mine clearance and explosive disposal work, with North Korean mine clearance experts also participating in the work.

"This does not include mine clearance in nearby areas, roads, farmland, forest belts, infrastructure, and energy facilities, and the work is extremely massive. North Korean soldiers are playing an active role in the mine clearance work," he said. "Like all residents of Kursk region, I sincerely thank the North Korean people for helping our home return to peace! I often express my gratitude to the North Korean military commanders during meetings."

North Korean special forces in Kursk. Photo from North Korean Central Television

According to Reuters, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Friday that the North Korean army is currently playing an important role in the mine clearance operation in Kursk region.

The video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows North Korean soldiers receiving training on various types of mines and detection equipment, participating in practical exercises, and singing patriotic songs.

In the video, a Russian commander named "Viles" praised, "They are all good guys, they learn quickly, listen carefully, and take notes." Another commander named "Lesnik" also said, "Their professional level is comparable to Russian sappers, and the tasks they perform are completely the same."

Reuters cited a report from the Russian newspaper "Zvezda" stating that Russian and Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk area face "unprecedented high-density" anti-tank mines and personnel-kill mines left behind by Ukrainian forces, many of which were manufactured by NATO countries.

The report mentioned that 37 out of 64 residential areas in the Bolshesoldatsky district of Kursk region are still closed to civilians due to the threat of landmines, and entry is prohibited. It was also reported that engineers were attacked by Ukrainian artillery and drones while carrying out mine clearance missions.

Reuters pointed out that North Korea's significant role in Russia's mine clearance operations highlights the willingness of the two countries to further develop their military relations.

Russian State News Agency quoted the Korean Central News Agency on June 6, reporting that a Russian delegation led by Deputy Minister of the Russian Ministry of Defense Viktor Golemykin arrived in Pyongyang on May 5 for a visit.

According to RIA Novosti, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense's announcement, both sides discussed the topic of "bilateral cooperation in military political work within the Russian Federation Armed Forces and the Korean People's Army." Golemykin pointed out that the "brotherly bilateral relationship" between Russia and North Korea is actively expanding in multiple areas including military cooperation.

The Russian announcement mentioned that the delegation led by Golemykin paid homage to the Pyongyang Liberation Monument by presenting wreaths.

This article is exclusive to Guan察者网. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572604192435520035/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author. Welcome to express your attitude by clicking on the [top/vote] buttons below.