Russia Sends Delegation to North Korea for Opening of Museum Honoring Troops Killed in Ukraine War

A Russian delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, arrived in Pyongyang on April 25, 2026, to attend a ceremony marking the opening of a memorial museum honoring soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine, Yonhap reported, citing North Korea's state media.

The delegation was greeted by Jo Yong-won, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, upon arrival in Pyongyang on April 25, 2026, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea is set to open the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations in Pyongyang to honor North Korean troops killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, KCNA stated.

North Korea deployed around 15,000 combat troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine after Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June 2024, as reported by KCNA. On April 26, 2025, Russia declared it had recaptured the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, with North Korean troops reportedly playing a role in the operation.

Jo Yong-won and Vyacheslav Volodin held talks at the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang on April 25, 2026, KCNA said.

During the talks on April 25, 2026, Jo Yong-won and Vyacheslav Volodin exchanged opinions on ways to expand parliamentary exchange and cooperation between North Korea and Russia, according to KCNA. Jo Yong-won and Vyacheslav Volodin also reaffirmed their will to implement agreements made between their leaders in summit talks held in Pyongyang, KCNA reported.

Jo Yong-won said the deployment of a high-level delegation to the opening ceremony displays the Russian people's support, as quoted by KCNA.

Vyacheslav Volodin expressed gratitude to Kim Jong-un for supporting operations at Kursk during the talks on April 25, 2026, KCNA stated. Vyacheslav Volodin vowed to eternally remember North Korean soldiers during the talks on April 25, 2026, according to KCNA.

Gennady Andreyevich Zyuganov, leader of Russia's Communist Party, sent a congratulatory message to Kim Jong-un to mark the seventh anniversary of Kim's first visit to Russia and the first anniversary of the Kursk recapture, KCNA reported.

Gennady Andreyevich Zyuganov said ties between Russia and North Korea have reached an unprecedentedly high level and entered a new era with the signing of a pact formalizing their comprehensive strategic partnership, as quoted by KCNA.