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Kim Jong-un Confirms 14,000 Troops Deployed to Russia

12/13/2025

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Kim Jong-un Acknowledges Troop Deployment

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un acknowledged that North Korean troops were deployed to Russia's Kursk region for mine-clearing, a rare admission of Pyongyang's role in Ukraine.
He said 14,000 North Korean soldiers were sent under a mutual defense pact, with over 6,000 killed.
During a ceremony, he honored the 528th Regiment of Engineers for loyalty and sacrifice.
The acknowledgment aligns with South Korean and Western intelligence on North Korea's involvement.

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Kim Jong-un Honors Troops

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a welcoming ceremony on December 12, 2023, for the 528th Regiment of Engineers, returning from a 120-day deployment in Russia.
Kim praised the regiment's "heroic" actions in the Kursk region and highlighted their "absolute loyalty" to the state.
He announced that nine soldiers killed in action would receive the title of Hero of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The regiment will be awarded the Order of Freedom and Independence, reinforcing North Korea's narrative of sacrifice in the Ukraine conflict.

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Kim Jong-un Acknowledges Troop Deployment

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un acknowledged that North Korean troops were deployed to Russia's Kursk region for mine-clearing, a rare admission of Pyongyang's role in Ukraine.
He said 14,000 North Korean soldiers were sent under a mutual defense pact, with over 6,000 killed.
During a ceremony, he honored the 528th Regiment of Engineers for loyalty and sacrifice.
The acknowledgment aligns with South Korean and Western intelligence on North Korea's involvement.

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