Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has awarded North Korean troops the Order of Courage for their role in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region last year.
Belousov presented the medals during a visit to Pyongyang on Sunday, stating that the North Korean soldiers who fought in Kursk are “the true heroes of our time, the elite of the Korean armed forces, their pride and their tower of strength.”
The troops had been deployed under the June 2024 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and North Korea, participating in combat operations and mine-clearing efforts in the border region.
Belousov said the award was made on the instructions of President Vladimir Putin and described the ceremony as “a truly special day in the record of the Russian-Korean military brotherhood.”
Following the award ceremony, Belousov and Russian Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin attended the opening of a museum and memorial in Pyongyang dedicated to the North Korean soldiers who contributed to the liberation of Kursk.
The minister also held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during which both sides expressed interest in deepening defense cooperation on a “sustainable, long-term basis.”
Belousov informed Kim that Moscow is prepared to sign a Russian-Korean Military Cooperation Plan for the 2027–2031 period later this year.
He characterized current bilateral relations as having reached an “unprecedentedly high level,” with expanded contacts expected across multiple fields in 2026.
