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North Korea leader Kim praises 'heroic' troops in Russia, state media says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 20, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Kim Jong Un praises North Korean troops aiding Russia in Ukraine, highlighting their heroic efforts and strategic partnership with Putin.
Kim Jong Un Lauds North Korean Troops Supporting Russia in Ukraine
Kim Jong Un's Support for Russian Military Efforts
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised "heroic" North Korean troops who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine, in a meeting with officers of the army's overseas operation, state media KCNA said on Thursday.
North Korea's Military Contributions
Kim "highly appreciated their feats of leading the combat units of our armed forces, which participated in the operations to liberate the Kursk Region of the Russian Federation, to victory," KCNA reported.
North Korea has dispatched more than 10,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and is believed to be planning another deployment, according to a South Korean intelligence assessment.
Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership treaty in June last year, which includes a mutual defence pact.
Ahead of Putin's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kim spoke to Putin by telephone and reaffirmed full support for Moscow.
Tribute to Fallen Soldiers
Earlier, Kim paid tribute to North Korean soldiers killed during the war with Ukraine, covering their coffins with flags and resting both of his hands on them in a rare public display.
"Ours is a heroic army ... Our army has fully demonstrated its unique qualities. Such a result has cemented its appellation and reputation as the most powerful army in the world," Kim said, according to KCNA.
(Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Key Takeaways
- •Kim Jong Un praised North Korean troops supporting Russia.
- •North Korea has sent over 10,000 troops to aid Russia.
- •Kim and Putin have a strategic partnership treaty.
- •Kim paid tribute to fallen North Korean soldiers.
- •North Korea's military is described as the most powerful.
Frequently Asked Questions about North Korea leader Kim praises 'heroic' troops in Russia, state media says
1What did Kim Jong Un say about North Korean troops?
Kim praised the 'heroic' North Korean troops for their feats in leading combat units that participated in operations in the Kursk Region of Russia.
2How many North Korean troops have been sent to support Russia?
North Korea has dispatched more than 10,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and is believed to be planning another deployment.
3What agreement did Kim and Putin sign?
Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June last year, which includes a mutual defense pact.
4What tribute did Kim pay to fallen soldiers?
Kim paid tribute to North Korean soldiers killed during the war by covering their coffins with flags and resting his hands on them in a rare public display.
5What qualities did Kim attribute to the North Korean army?
Kim stated that the North Korean army has fully demonstrated its unique qualities, cementing its reputation as the most powerful army in the world.
