North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described his military’s participation in liberating Russia’s Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces as a “sacred mission” to strengthen ties with Moscow, according to a statement from the Workers’ Party of Korea. Kim emphasized that the operation, conducted under Article 4 of the Russia-North Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, aimed to uphold mutual prosperity and North Korea’s honor. He ordered Korean People’s Army troops to assist Russian forces in defeating what he called “Ukrainian neo-Nazi invaders.”

Kim praised the North Korean soldiers as heroes and announced plans for a memorial in Pyongyang to honor their role. Russian General Valery Gerasimov confirmed the operation’s success, thanking North Korean forces for their contribution. Article 4 of the treaty mandates military support if either nation faces an armed attack, solidifying the deepening alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow. The operation marks a significant escalation in North Korea’s direct military involvement in the Ukraine conflict.