Putin Praises North Korean Troops for Role in Liberating Kursk Region
Russian president highlights DPRK combat engineers’ contribution to mine clearance and frontline operations
Russia, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday praised the contribution of North Korean military personnel in the liberation of Russia’s Kursk Region, highlighting their role in combat operations and large-scale mine clearance efforts.
Speaking at a year-end board meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Putin expressed specific appreciation for the participation of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
DPRK Forces Deployed by Decision of Kim Jong Un
“I would like to specifically mention our North Korean military colleagues,” Putin said during the meeting.
According to the Russian president, the deployment of DPRK troops was carried out by decision of Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK.
“They were sent to participate in the liberation of the Kursk Region and fought valiantly and bravely with the enemy side by side with Russian soldiers,” Putin stated.
He added that North Korean forces demonstrated courage and discipline throughout the operation.
Mine Clearance Operations in Liberated Areas
Putin noted that North Korean combat engineers played a significant role in a large-scale and technically demanding mine clearance operation following the liberation of the region.
“They also took part in a large-scale and extremely difficult mine clearance operation in the liberated Kursk Region,” he said.
Alongside Russian specialists, DPRK combat engineers were involved in clearing vast areas of explosive devices left behind during the fighting.
Strategic Partnership Underpins Military Cooperation
A unit of North Korean combat engineers was formed and deployed to the Kursk Region by order of Kim Jong Un following bilateral agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The deployment was carried out within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed during Kim Jong Un’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June 2024.
Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein stated last week that combat engineers of the DPRK’s 528th Engineer Regiment cleared mines across nearly 42,400 hectares of territory and destroyed more than 1.5 million explosive devices.
According to earlier reports, personnel of the 528th Engineer Regiment returned to North Korea after completing the combat assignment entrusted to them by the Workers’ Party of Korea in the Kursk Region.
In his remarks, Putin also emphasized Russia’s pride in its own servicemen.
He said the country honors the feats of Russian soldiers and officers fighting on the front line, as well as all those involved in protecting Russia and ensuring the safety of its citizens. (PW)