Finance
Russian Parliament Speaker in North Korea to Mark Pyongyang's Troop Deployment in Ukraine War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 25, 2026
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Russia’s Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has arrived in North Korea to take part in a ceremony marking Pyongyang’s troop deployment to assist Russian forces in Ukraine, amid deepening military ties between the two countries.
Russian Parliament Speaker Visits North Korea to Mark Troop Deployment in Ukraine
Key Developments in Russia-North Korea Relations Amid Ukraine Conflict
Russian Delegation's Arrival in North Korea
SEOUL, April 25 (Reuters) - The speaker of Russia's parliament, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, arrived in North Korea on Saturday to attend an event to commemorate Pyongyang's deployment of troops to help Moscow in the Ukraine conflict, Tass news agency reported.
Welcoming Ceremony and Key Figures
• Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's Duma, was welcomed by Jo Yong-won, Russian news agency Tass said. Jo is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's close political confidant and the head of the Supreme People's Assembly.
North Korean Troop Deployment and Casualties
• North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 troops to fight with Russian forces against Ukraine. More than 6,000 of them have been killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials.
Commemoration Events
• North Korea is expected to hold a ceremony to mark the "liberation of Kursk" a year after Moscow declared the region had been recaptured from Ukraine.
Strengthening Russia-North Korea Ties
• North Korea's Kim and Putin met in June 2024 and signed a comprehensive strategic treaty that includes a mutual defence pact. The two countries had rapidly developed diplomatic and military ties since 2023.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Key Takeaways
- •North Korea has sent approximately 14,000–15,000 troops to assist Russia in the Ukraine war, suffering heavy casualties—estimated in the thousands—especially in the Kursk region. (cfr.org)
- •The two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, including mutual defence obligations, on June 18 / 19, 2024, which has since been ratified and fully entered into force. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Volodin’s visit underscores the increasingly overt military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang—culminating in public events such as the planned “liberation of Kursk” ceremony. (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russian parliament speaker in North Korea to mark Pyongyang's troop deployment in Ukraine war
1Why did the Russian parliament speaker visit North Korea?
The Russian parliament speaker visited North Korea to attend an event commemorating Pyongyang's deployment of troops to assist Russia in the Ukraine war.
2How many North Korean troops have been sent to Ukraine?
North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 troops to Ukraine, with over 6,000 reportedly killed according to officials.
3What event is being marked by North Korea regarding the Ukraine war?
North Korea is holding a ceremony to mark the 'liberation of Kursk,' a year after Moscow declared the region had been recaptured from Ukraine.
4What is the nature of the treaty signed by North Korea and Russia?
North Korea and Russia signed a comprehensive strategic treaty in June 2024, which includes a mutual defence pact.
5How have Russia and North Korea developed their ties recently?
Since 2023, Russia and North Korea have rapidly developed diplomatic and military ties.
