North Korea has officially acknowledged for the first time that it deployed soldiers to Russia to assist Moscow’s military campaign against Ukraine, confirming their role in recapturing Russian-held territory in the Kursk region.

In a statement published Monday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s Central Military Commission announced that leader Kim Jong Un had ordered the deployment under a mutual defense pact with Russia. 

The troops, according to KCNA, were sent to "eliminate the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers" and "liberate" Kursk in coordination with Russian forces.

Kim praised the soldiers, calling them "heroes and representatives of the motherland’s honor," as quoted by KCNA. The statement emphasized that Pyongyang took pride in its alliance with "a powerful state" like Russia.

Following Pyongyang’s confirmation, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his gratitude, commending North Korean troops for their "solidarity, justice, and true comradeship." 

Last year, Kim and Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, binding both nations to provide military assistance if either were attacked.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Kim also announced plans to erect a monument in Pyongyang to honor the fallen soldiers. Flowers would be placed at their tombstones, symbolically acknowledging their sacrifice. 

Notably, until now, North Korea had remained silent about reports that it had dispatched thousands of troops to Russia in October.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian officials estimated that around 14,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to the frontlines, including 3,000 reinforcements sent after early battlefield losses. 

Reports indicated that although the North Koreans initially suffered heavy casualties — partly due to a lack of armored vehicles and unfamiliarity with drone warfare — they adapted over time and contributed significantly to regaining control of the Kursk region.

Casualty figures vary widely. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported in January that approximately 300 North Korean soldiers were killed and about 2,700 wounded. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cited higher figures, claiming up to 4,000 casualties, while U.S. estimates placed the number closer to 1,200.

The North Korean statement came days after Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, lauded the "heroism" of North Korean fighters, crediting them with playing a pivotal role in reclaiming Kursk.

However, Ukraine’s General Staff quickly refuted claims that the area was fully under Russian control, insisting defensive operations were still ongoing.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department condemned the involvement of North Korea and other third-party nations in prolonging Russia’s war efforts, reiterating calls for an end to both the conflict and Moscow’s support for Pyongyang.

Sources: Al Jazeera 

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