Kim Jong-un admits North Korean troops clearing Russian landmines

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has publicly acknowledged that his nation’s troops were deployed to Russia to clear landmines, marking a rare confirmation of the dangerous tasks undertaken by Pyongyang’s soldiers abroad. The admission came during a ceremony in Pyongyang to welcome back an engineering regiment that had been serving in Russia’s Kursk region.

According to state media reports, Kim praised the soldiers for their efforts, stating they had transformed a “vast area of danger zone into a safe and secure one in a matter of less than three months.” He highlighted the unit’s 120-day deployment, which began in August, and noted that soldiers had sent letters home during their breaks from mine-clearing operations.

The ceremony, held on Friday, also served as a somber occasion where Kim posthumously awarded state honors to nine soldiers from the regiment who died during their deployment. He described the troops as having displayed “mass heroism overcoming unimaginable mental and physical burdens.” Images released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim embracing returned soldiers, some appearing injured and in wheelchairs, and consoling families of the deceased. He was seen kneeling before portraits of fallen soldiers, placing medals and flowers in tribute.

This revelation comes amidst assessments by South Korean and Western intelligence agencies that North Korea has dispatched thousands of troops to support Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Analysts suggest that in return, Russia is providing North Korea with financial aid, military technology, and essential supplies such as food and energy, helping the isolated nation circumvent international sanctions related to its nuclear and missile programs.

While North Korea had previously confirmed troop deployments and fatalities in April, this speech offers a more detailed and direct acknowledgement of specific, hazardous assignments undertaken by its military personnel in Russia. The KCNA report also detailed Kim’s expressions of empathy for the soldiers and their families, acknowledging the “pain of waiting” and that he had “never forgotten the beloved sons even for a moment.”

– Craig Wilson (huh0303@gmail.com)