North Korea confirms that it has sent forces to fight for Russia

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, informed the construction of a memorial for its soldiers who killed the fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, government media reported on Monday, confirmed Northern Army A role in the European conflict for the first time.

The Central Military Committee of the Government Workers Party said in the statement in a statement made in the government media on Monday that Mr. Kim’s decision to start sending the North Korean forces last year to fight for Russia opened “a new chapter of history showed the highest strategic level in the firm friendship” between the two countries.

The statement is the first time that North Korea has recognized the deployment of forces to Russia or its participation in fighting against the Ukrainian forces.

On Saturday, Valerie Gerasimov, the Supreme Russian military commander, praised the “stability and heroism” in North Korea, where the “complete liberation” of the border region called the Russian corses. He also thanked them for “their great help in defeating the Ukrainian Armed Forces Group”, his comments were the first recognition of the North Korean forces fighting alongside them.

The government media in the north said that Mr. Kim also praised his forces “heroism and courage.” Up to 4000 North Korea, as well as Russian forces, to help them restore the lands that are lost in front of Ukraine in Kursk, according to South Korean and Ukrainian officials.

And Mr. Kim was quoted as saying by the Korean Central Agency in the north: “A memorial will be created for the battle institutions in our capital and the flowers of prayer for the eternity presented by the motherland, and the people will be placed in front of the graves of the graves of the fallen soldiers.”

He also ordered his government to “deal with families of brave soldiers who participated in the war and carefully and accused them.”

North Korea sent 14,000 soldiers, most of whom are members Special operations unitsTo Russia since last year, Including 3000 It was sent between January and February to replace the murder or the wounded, according to South Korea officials.

Ukraine opposed the claim by both Russia and North Korea to restore Korsk, and insisted that its forces are still holding positions there.

Kiev was hoping to use the land she occupied in Kursk as a bargaining in future peace talks with Russia, which seized parts of East and South Ukraine since it started its attack in 2022.

The northern government media indicated that Mr. Kim suggested first to send forces to Russia under A mutual defense treaty He signed with the Russian President, Vladimir F. Putin, in Pyongyang in June last year. The treaty calls for both countries to provide military assistance without delay if either of them is attacked.

South Korean and US officials said they are afraid that North Korea is receiving economic aid and assistance that affects the need in arms technologies from Russia in exchange for deploying its forces.

On Monday, North Korea said that its alliance with Russia “has been verified as the cost of blood in the combat shooting will contribute significantly to the expansion and development of future relations of friendship and cooperation between” the two countries.