Kim Jong-un praises North Korean troops in Kursk

Kim Jong-un made the remarks during a ceremony attended by Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and speaker of Russia's parliament Vyacheslav Volodin, according to state media KCNA. The Russian delegation arrived in Pyongyang to attend the opening of a memorial complex honouring North Koreans killed fighting in Ukraine, multiple sources reported. Kim said the souls of the fallen will live forever with the great honour they defended, according to KCNA. Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have provided official numbers of North Korean casualties, but Seoul estimates about 2,000 North Koreans have died in the conflict. South Korean intelligence estimates at least 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to help Russia recapture parts of western Kursk, though neither Pyongyang nor Russia have confirmed these figures. The memorial complex opening underscores the growing symbolic and military partnership between the two nations.

Russia and North Korea have agreed to long-term military cooperation covering 2027-2031, Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov said at a press conference. We agreed with the DPRK defence ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing, Belousov stated. In return for sending thousands of troops, missiles, and munitions, North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, food, and energy from Russia, according to analysts. Kim Jong-un said his government would continue to fully support Russia's policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security interests, as quoted by KCNA. The deepening ties follow a deal signed in June 2024 by President Vladimir Putin and Kim, pledging mutual help in the event of aggression against either country. Since 2022, North Korea has deepened relations with Russia, first through political support and recognition of Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, then with shells and soldiers. The long-term cooperation plan for 2027-2031 has not been detailed publicly, and the specific military technology Russia is providing to North Korea remains unclear.

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory, and Russia over the past day killed at least 16 people, according to authorities. Russian drone and missile strikes on Dnipro killed at least nine people, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said. One man was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, Moscow-installed authorities reported. The exact number of casualties from recent strikes remains unclear, as officials have not provided a full tally. The strikes highlight the ongoing violence across the region, with both sides continuing to target military and infrastructure sites.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of nuclear terrorism on the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. Russia is again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster, Zelenskyy said in a public speech. He added that Russian drones regularly pass over Chornobyl and one hit its protective shell last year. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi echoed concerns, saying repairs to the damaged protective shell must begin immediately. IAEA assessments show the damage from the strike has compromised a key safety function of the structure. Repairs to the Chornobyl shell would require at least 500 million euros ($586m), according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The current status of funding and repairs remains uncertain, and Grossi has called for urgent international action to secure the site.

Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, deep inside Russian territory, according to multiple reports. The outcome of the strike has not been confirmed. The attack comes amid Ukraine's ongoing incursion into the Kursk region, which began in 2024 when Ukrainian forces captured more than 1,000 sq km of Russian land but were ultimately pushed back. Russia said it regained full control of the region a year after the incursion, though the exact extent of control remains disputed. The long-term military cooperation plan for 2027-2031 between Russia and North Korea has not been detailed publicly, and the specific military technology Russia is providing to North Korea in return for its support remains unclear.