Trending Now - Russia and North Korea Forge Lasting Military Alliance
WHO:
DW.com - Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin visited North Korea.
DW.com - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was involved in discussions with Russian officials.
The Moscow Times - Vyacheslav Volodin thanked Kim Jong Un for North Korea's support in the conflict.
WHAT:
Al Jazeera - North Korea opened the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations to honor soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
Al Jazeera - South Korea’s intelligence agency estimated that North Korea deployed about 15,000 soldiers to fight for Russia in the Kursk region.
Al Jazeera - During the inaugural ceremony, Kim Jong Un stated that the fallen North Korean troops would remain “a symbol of the Korean people’s heroism” and would support “a victorious march by the Korean and Russian people”.
The Moscow Times - Vyacheslav Volodin expressed gratitude to Kim Jong Un, stating, "[Let me express these] words of gratitude to you, esteemed Comrade Kim Jong Un, and to the Korean people for their fraternal support in the liberation of Kursk."
DW.com - Russia and North Korea agreed on a new defense cooperation agreement set to run until 2031.
DW.com - Belousov stated, "We agreed with the DPRK Defense Ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing."
The Moscow Times - North Korea has sent thousands of troops, missiles, and munitions to support Russia's war in Ukraine.
The Moscow Times - Volodin expressed gratitude to Kim for the "liberation of Kursk" and noted that North Korean soldiers fought alongside Russian forces.
WHERE:
DW.com - The discussions and memorial inauguration took place in Pyongyang, North Korea.
The Moscow Times - The memorial complex honors North Korean soldiers killed while supporting Russia's war effort against Ukraine.
WHEN:
DW.com - The defense cooperation agreement discussions occurred during a visit over the weekend.
DW.com - A mutual defense deal was signed in 2024 during a meeting between Kim Jong Un and President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang.
DW.com - The new military cooperation plan is set to be signed this year for the period of 2027-2031.
WHY:
DW.com - The military, political, and economic cooperation between Russia and North Korea has intensified amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Moscow Times - North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food, and energy from Russia in exchange for its support.
HOW:
Al Jazeera - Kim sprinkled earth over the remains of one soldier and laid flowers for others whose bodies had been placed in a mortuary during the memorial ceremony.
DW.com - Belousov participated in "ceremonial and commemorative events" in Pyongyang.
The Moscow Times - North Korean troops were deployed to Russia's southwestern Kursk region to fend off a counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces.
(UPDATED April 27, 2026 17:24 UTC)
North Korea has officially opened the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations to honor soldiers who lost their lives fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. During the ceremony, Kim Jong Un expressed that these fallen troops would symbolize the heroism of the Korean people and support a victorious march for both Koreans and Russians, while Vyacheslav Volodin thanked Kim for the fraternal support in the liberation of Kursk. As part of the memorial, Kim sprinkled earth over the remains of one soldier and laid flowers for others whose bodies were placed in a mortuary.
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(UPDATED April 27, 2026 09:39 UTC)
In a significant development, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin visited North Korea, where they engaged in discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. During their talks, Russia and North Korea reached an agreement on a new defense cooperation plan set to run until 2031, with Belousov emphasizing the goal of establishing stable, long-term military ties. This collaboration comes as North Korea has already provided substantial support to Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, including troops and munitions, while receiving aid in return.