Video shows North Korea’s reception of some of its soldiers who returned from a mission in Russia
They were essential in helping Russia recover the territory it already had before invading Ukraine and now they are starting to arrive home, where the powers that be want them to be seen as heroes for what they did for the country’s greatest ally.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received a number of soldiers from the 528th Engineer Regiment of the Korean People’s Army this Friday. Soldiers who were among the group of thousands of soldiers who did what had not yet been done under the North Korean regime: enter a real combat scenario.
They did so at Russia’s request, a special request from Vladimir Putin to Kim Jong-un, who quickly agreed to help the Russian president in one of the most complicated phases of the war for Moscow.
Not only was Russia having difficulties in advancing on the land it intended to conquer, but it also found itself faced with a surprising incursion by Ukraine into its own territory.
In August 2024, some Ukrainian soldiers broke through the northern border to advance decisively into the Kursk region, where they penetrated many kilometers into Russia.
Faced with the difficulty in containing the advances first, and in managing to expel the Ukrainians later, Vladimir Putin made this request to his ally.
To comply with this request, Kim Jong-un sent a series of North Korean soldiers, some of whom, according to KCNA, have now been received for their “heroic” conduct and “massive heroism” in carrying out orders given by the Workers’ Party of Korea during a 120-day deployment.
KCNA confirmed that these units were deployed in August to the Kursk area, where they helped with engineering tasks to combat Ukraine.
The video released by the North Korean agency shows soldiers still in uniform disembarking from a plane. Kim Jong-un then appears hugging the soldiers, including one who returned home in a wheelchair.
Just last month, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that North Korean troops helped Russia defend itself against a new incursion in western Kursk, where they later played an important role in demining the territory.
The mutual defense pact between the two countries has already led North Korea to send around 14 thousand soldiers to fight against Russia, of which six thousand died, according to information from South Korean, Ukrainian and Western services.
Regarding this engineering mission, Kim Jong-un confirmed the death of nine soldiers, describing their deaths as a “heartbreaking loss”. For services rendered in favor of Russia, this regime will now receive the Order of Freedom and Independence, while the soldiers who did not return alive will be decorated with the title of Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in addition to other state honors.
The welcoming ceremony took place this Friday in Pyongyang and was attended by the highest military ranks, party leaders, families and a large section of the public, always in agreement with KCNA.
Assuring that the deaths and injuries were not in vain, Kim Jong-un wanted to highlight that the mission of this regiment, carried out in dangerous combat zones, demonstrated “total loyalty” to the party and the State. He also took the opportunity to praise the political indoctrination, discipline and unity among the soldiers.
