Thousands of North Koreans fought for Russia. A memorial hints at the death toll
Summary
About 2,300 North Korean soldiers died fighting for Russia in the battle for Kursk during the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a BBC investigation based on a new memorial in Pyongyang. North Korea sent around 11,000 troops to support Russia, but neither North Korea nor Russia has given official numbers on casualties.Key Facts
- North Korea sent about 11,000 soldiers to fight for Russia in the Kursk region during the Russia-Ukraine war.
- Approximately 2,300 names of dead North Korean soldiers are engraved on a new memorial in Pyongyang.
- The memorial was built by order of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and opened in April 2026.
- South Korea’s intelligence agency estimates around 6,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded.
- North Korea has not officially confirmed any death toll from their operation in Kursk.
- North Korea likely received food, money, and technology from Russia in exchange for sending troops.
- The memorial includes two walls with engraved names, a building, and a cemetery for honored soldiers.
- Soldiers who showed "extraordinary bravery" are buried outdoors, while others are commemorated inside a columbarium (a place where urns with ashes are kept).
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.