The Russian-North Korean military cooperation on the Ukrainian front made headlines in Rodong Sinmun on Tuesday, April 29. The official North Korean daily – for the first time –confirmed that Pyongyang had sent soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The report put forward a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who thanked the troops of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, declaring that "the Russian people will never forget the feat of the Korean special forces fighters" who "gave their lives for Russia, for our common freedom."

The development suits a North Korean regime eager to intensify military cooperation with its powerful neighbor. According to Pyongyang, the deployment of its contingent – estimated at between 11,000 and 15,000 soldiers – is in line with the provisions of the United Nations Charter and the strategic partnership treaty signed in June 2024 with its Russian ally. Leader Kim Jong-un described the deployment of the troops as a "sacred mission aimed at strengthening friendship and solidarity" between the two countries.

In Moscow, state television aired footage showing North Korean soldiers training alongside Russian instructors. The soldiers appear in Russian uniforms, holding Russian weapons, notably the latest AK-12 assault rifle.

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