North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Praises Troops Returning from Russia Mission

Post by : Saif

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a special ceremony to welcome home a unit of soldiers who had recently returned from a mission in Russia, state media KCNA reported on Saturday.

In a speech, Kim praised the 528th Regiment of Engineers of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) for their "heroic" efforts and "mass heroism" during a 120-day deployment abroad. The unit had been sent to Russia in early August to carry out combat and engineering tasks in the Kursk region amid Moscow’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Video footage released by KCNA showed the soldiers arriving home, with Kim personally greeting troops, including a soldier in a wheelchair. Families, military leaders, party officials, and large crowds attended the ceremony in Pyongyang on Friday.

The North Korean government reported that nine soldiers were killed during the mission. Kim described their deaths as a “heartrending loss” and announced that the regiment would receive the Order of Freedom and Independence. The fallen soldiers were also posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, along with other state honors.

KCNA said the regiment had successfully cleared dangerous areas under combat conditions and showed “absolute loyalty” to the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the state. Kim highlighted the unit’s discipline, political training, and unity as an example for the entire armed forces.

This is part of a wider pattern of North Korea publicly honoring soldiers who served alongside Russian forces. Last year, under a mutual defense pact, North Korea sent around 14,000 troops to fight in the Kursk region. According to South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western sources, more than 6,000 of those soldiers were killed.

Kim’s comments and the ceremony demonstrate North Korea’s continuing support for its troops and the government’s close ties with Russia. By highlighting loyalty, sacrifice, and bravery, the leadership aims to strengthen national pride and military morale among its citizens.

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