On April 26, a memorial complex and the “Museum of the Military Feats of Heroes of Foreign Military Operations” were inaugurated in Pyongyang, dedicated to North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The ceremony was attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, along with prominent Russian officials, including State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. The memorial features the names of both Russian and North Korean military personnel who lost their lives in the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Kim Jong-un for the swift construction of the memorial, describing it as a “symbol of friendship and unity between the two nations.”
According to estimates from South Korean intelligence (NIS) and Western agencies, at least 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died in the Russia-Ukraine war as of April 2026. Total casualties, including those wounded, are estimated to be around 6,000.
As of early 2026, there are approximately 11,000 North Korean troops stationed in the frontline Kursk region of Russia, comprising around 10,000 combatants and an additional 1,000 personnel from engineering units.
A new memorial in Pyongyang honors North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, reflecting the ongoing military cooperation between the two nations. Estimates indicate significant North Korean casualties in the war, with thousands reported dead or wounded.