North Korea has opened a new memorial museum in Pyongyang honoring its soldiers who were killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine.

The ceremony, attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and senior Russian officials, marked both the museum’s inauguration and the anniversary of operations in Russia’s Kursk region.

South Korean intelligence estimates that around 15,000 North Korean troops were deployed to support Russia, with about 2,000 killed, though no official figures have been confirmed by Moscow or Pyongyang.

During the event, Kim praised the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed strong support for Russia’s war efforts, highlighting the deepening military partnership between the two countries, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The development reflects growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, including military support and potential technology sharing.