Kim Jong Un and Russian Minister Unveil NK War Memorial
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- North Korea sent at least 15,000 soldiers to aid Russia in Ukraine and is estimated by Seoul to have lost about 2,000 troops.
- Russia celebrated the one‑year anniversary of its Kursk recapture by unveiling a war memorial in Pyongyang, framing the conflict as a "just sacred war".
- Andrey Belousov announced discussions on long‑term military cooperation with North Korean officials, signaling deeper strategic ties.
- Vladimir Putin thanked Kim Jong Un at a Chinese military parade and highlighted the June 2024 mutual‑defence pact that commits both nations to aid each other if attacked.
Why it matters: Russia gains roughly 15,000 North Korean troops and thousands of reconstruction workers, while North Korea secures food, money and technical aid, deepening its reliance on Moscow and raising its exposure to sanctions.
