Background on Kim Jong Un and North Korea’s Involvement
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has been at the helm of the isolated nation since 2011. Under his rule, North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear program and maintain a strict control over its citizens. Despite international sanctions, North Korea has found ways to engage in global activities, including sending military personnel to support Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
North Korea’s Military Presence in Russia
According to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, North Korea has dispatched thousands of military personnel to aid Russia in its nearly four-year-long invasion of Ukraine. This involvement has included the deployment of engineering units for various tasks, such as the recent demining operations in the Russian region of Kursk.
The Tragic Loss in Kursk
The North Korean 528th Engineer Regiment spent 120 days in Kursk, a region partially controlled by Ukrainian forces between August 2024 and spring 2025. During this period, nine soldiers tragically lost their lives while performing demining operations.
Kim Jong Un’s Response and Honors
On Friday, Kim Jong Un presided over a welcome ceremony for the returning soldiers of the 528th Engineer Regiment. During the event, he acknowledged “the painful loss of nine lives” during the operation. In honor of these fallen soldiers, Kim bestowed upon them the title of “Heroes of the DPRK” and other distinctions to pay “eternal tribute to their bravery,” as reported by the North Korean news agency KCNA.
Kim expressed his deep sorrow for having waited 120 days without forgetting his “beloved children” for even a moment.
Deployment Details and International Agreement
In June, Russia announced the deployment of 1,000 engineering soldiers and approximately 5,000 North Korean workers for the “reconstruction” of Kursk, which was recently liberated by Russian forces with the assistance of a North Korean contingent. This information was confirmed in November through official photos published by the Russian Defense Ministry’s newspaper.
The close relationship between North Korea and Russia is underpinned by a mutual defense agreement signed in 2024 during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Kim Jong Un? Kim Jong Un has been the Supreme Leader of North Korea since 2011. He is known for his country’s nuclear program development and strict control over its citizens.
- Why did North Korea send soldiers to Russia? North Korea has dispatched military personnel, including engineering units, to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, which has been ongoing for nearly four years.
- What happened in Kursk? Nine North Korean soldiers died while performing demining operations in the Russian region of Kursk between August 2024 and spring 2025.
- How did Kim Jong Un respond to the losses? Kim Jong Un acknowledged the loss of nine lives, honored the fallen soldiers as heroes, and expressed his sorrow for waiting 120 days without forgetting them.
- What is the connection between North Korea and Russia? The two nations are bound by a mutual defense agreement signed in 2024, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea.
