North Korea has publicly revealed images of its soldiers deployed to Russia for the first time. Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, was captured receiving the remains of fallen soldiers alongside his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, a key figure in the regime. This move is seen as an effort to bolster internal propaganda justifying the deployment.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea, reported on Monday that Kim met with visiting Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and attended an arts performance together.
Photos published by the newspaper showed multiple images of North Korean troops deployed to Kursk displayed on a screen during the performance.
Notably, a poignant image emerged of Kim kneeling before a coffin draped with the North Korean flag, his expression somber. The coffin likely contained the remains of a soldier killed in action and repatriated. High-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, were also present for the solemn occasion.
The performance also revealed for the first time that Kim had ordered attack operations by special forces units. According to the report, Kim approved operational plans for the liberation of Kursk and issued attack orders to special operations forces on October 22, December 12, and December 22 of last year.
Other images showcased armed North Korean soldiers in Kursk, waving their national flag and demonstrating patriotic fervor. A caption read, “The stars of my homeland that will never fade from our hearts,” seemingly commemorating the fallen. Photos also highlighted North Korean-Russian military cooperation, with soldiers from both nations posing together in front of their respective flags.
While it’s unclear whether the footage depicted actual combat or training exercises, the large screen displayed scenes of North Korean troops breaching enemy lines and engaging in firefights.
This marks the first time North Korean state media has shown images of its soldiers deployed to Russia. While the deployment began in October last year, Pyongyang only officially acknowledged it in April.
Analysts believe the public reveal serves multiple purposes: emphasizing the strengthening North Korea-Russia alliance, asserting the legitimacy of their involvement, and potentially paving the way for more extensive propaganda efforts, including documentary films.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, predicts that North Korea will continue to emphasize the justification for the deployment, framing it as a heroic contribution to a righteous cause.
Professor Lim Eum Chul from Kyungnam University’s Institute for East Asian Studies commented that this aims to justify additional deployments, glorify the soldiers as heroes, and reinforce regime loyalty. Further, it also serves to remind North Koreans of the blood alliance with Russia while using cultural elements to highlight their involvement.
Intelligence reports indicate that North Korea deployed over 11,000 combat troops in October last year, with an additional 3,000 sent earlier this year. Following a recent visit by Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, North Korea agreed to send a reconstruction force to Kursk, comprising 1,000 engineers and 5,000 construction workers. U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies assess that further North Korean troop deployments are likely between July and August.
