Russia to build memorial for North Korean soldiers killed in Kursk

Foreign Minister Lavrov announced that Russia will build a memorial for North Korean soldiers killed while assisting Moscow in repelling Ukrainian troops from Kursk province.

"We have such a plan. This initiative was put forward by us and supported by our North Korean friends," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today, referring to the idea of building a memorial for North Korean soldiers killed in Kursk province.

The statement was made by Lavrov, who is visiting North Korea, during a press conference after talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, in the port city of Wonsan. Lavrov said that during the talks, the two sides discussed the situation surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the signing ceremony after their talks in Wonsan on 12/7. Photo: AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui at the signing ceremony after their talks in Wonsan on 12/7. Photo: AP

"Our North Korean friends affirmed their firm support for all the goals of the operation, as well as for the actions of the Russian leadership and our armed forces," Lavrov said.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said that after Lavrov's visit, Russia will send more high-level delegations to North Korea this year. The two countries have signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with a mutual defense clause.

Rudenko emphasized that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty "clearly meets the changing needs of the past few decades, as well as strengthens and elevates the traditional friendly neighborly relations between Russia and North Korea to a new qualitative level, as allies."

After Ukraine launched an offensive in Russia's Kursk province in August 2024, North Korea sent forces to support Russia, helping Moscow completely liberate the region by the end of April.

North Korean state television on 30/6 broadcast images from an event in Pyongyang on 29/6, showing leader Kim Jong-un attending a ceremony to repatriate the remains of North Korean soldiers killed in Russia.

It is unclear how many North Korean soldiers were deployed to Russia and how many were killed, but South Korea estimates that Pyongyang deployed more than 10,000 troops. Russia said last month that North Korea would send 6,000 engineers and demining experts to Kursk province to help rebuild areas previously occupied by Ukraine.

The port city of Wonsan, where North Korea recently opened a luxury resort, is also home to several naval and missile bases. The TASS news agency believes this resort could help increase the number of Russian tourists to North Korea, especially as the two sides have resumed direct train service from Moscow to Pyongyang and are building a bridge over the Tumen River.